The frequent burglaries from cars at Ventura campus have ceased since early in February, but overall theft remains a problem at all three campuses.

VCCCD Chief of Police James Botting explained that although car-related burglary has lessened at Ventura College considerably, students should continue to take precautions to protect their belongings. “What is amazing is how many people leave their personal affects unsecured or unattended.” Botting said. “Many of the petty thefts we experience are from book-bags and purses just left on a table or chair in the cafeteria or in the gym while the student does something else”

The amount of reported theft varies among the three campuses, and occurs more often in specific locations of student congregation. At Moorpark campus, students are prohibited from bringing backpacks or purses into the bookstore, and are instructed to leave their personal belongings in an unsecured cubby-hole unit guarded by a solitary surveillance camera, which Botting explained can deter but not prevent theft. Many students may be unaware that there are a small number of secured lockers available to more safely store personal belongings outside of the bookstore, and encouraged to utilize this provision.

“It’s surprising that with the number of bags left [outside the bookstore] that there isn’t more theft,” said Lt. Kegley, who heads the campus police department at Moorpark. Kegley said that although stolen property from these unsecured cubbies is not often reported, the actual number of thefts can be difficult to track. “Some people don’t want to go through the hassle of reporting [a stolen bag or personal affect],” Kegley said.

“You don’t always know if the victim lost the item or it was actually stolen,” Kegley explained. “Occasionally, someone will take a backpack, thinking that it’s theirs,” Kegley added, in reference to items reported missing from the bookstore cubbies. Regarding the current situation of the burglaries from vehicles that had been occurring at Ventura campus throughout January, Botting said that the campus police had contacted the Ventura Police Department, who recently has seen two incidents in the city of Ventura that bore similarities to the thefts at VC. The Ventura campus may be free from the problem for now, but students should continue to take precautions to beware of leaving valuables in the car.

Ventura Campus:

Mar. 4: Campus police pulled over a vehicle driving the wrong way on a one-way street, and found the driver to be intoxicated. The driver failed multiple sobriety tests and was also found to be in possession of cocaine. Subsequently, the driver was placed in the county jail.

Mar. 4: a student reported that her wallet had been stolen from the Saturday swap meet, when she dropped her wallet and moments later was unable to find it.

Moorpark Campus:

Feb 8: a purse was stolen from the library, and no suspects have been found.

(Waiting for date from Kegley): Diesel fuel was stolen from the generator at the contract site. The suspect siphoned 20 gallons of gas from the generator.

Oxnard Campus:

Feb 14: A handbag was stolen from the library while the owner was not looking.

To report any information about a crime, visit the campus police stations located on Oxnard campus (805) 986-5805, Ventura campus (805) 654-6486, or Moorpark campus (805). Crime updates and additional information is available at the VCCCD Police Department Web Site; www.vcccd.net/police/index.htm..