In a three-week time period between Nov. 3 and 24, a total of 17 vehicles were burglarized on the Sacramento State campus.

Although vehicles are burglarized and vandalized on campus every week, Campus Police Investigator John Hamrick said that this number seemed rather high.

A contributing factor was that eight of these auto burglaries occurred on Sunday, Nov. 12, although campus is relatively quiet on weekends. Of these eight burglaries, six took place in the Residence Hall parking lot in less than three hours.

“These cases were obviously related,” Hamrick said. “In this case, half were just attempts, and in the other half, the intruder actually gained entry to the vehicle.”

Two stereos, a microwave oven and several other unnamed objects were taken from the vehicles, although there was no clear motive for the burglaries.

“The burglars could just be juveniles or transients who wander onto campus,” Hamrick said, although Campus Police currently has no leads on the string of auto burglaries.

“In these cases, we rely on the campus community to report instances,” he said.

Hamrick said that no suspects were seen and the burglaries were discovered after the perpetrators left the scene.

In general, Hamrick said that vehicle burglaries tend to occur more frequently in the remote areas of campus such as the overflow parking lot and the parking structure. Of the 17 auto burglaries, seven occurred in the Residence Hall parking lot and seven in the parking structure.

“If you look at an overall pattern over a two-year time period, the back lots and the parking structure are hit more frequently because they are more remote,” Hamrick said.

Thuy Lam, a junior business major, parks at the back of campus in Lot 8. “I’ve been here almost five years and I’ve had no problems,” Lam said.

However, other students have had problems with parking on campus.

Amara Molina, a senior Biology major, usually parks by the University Union or in the Parking Structure. She said that someone hit her car once, but left a note on her car.

“But last semester, my friend’s car was broken into and someone took all of her books,” Molina said.

Tomica Taylor, a graduating senior with a major in Theater Arts, had a similar story that happened within the last month.

“A good friend of mine pulled into a parking spot, and this guy started cussing at her,” Taylor said. “She got back from class and her car had been keyed and someone spit on it.”

Sophomore Ruthie Breech said that she heard so many horror stories about parking on campus, she takes the bus. “I only buy a daily pass on really cold or wet days,” the History major said.

Hamrick said the Campus Police Department tries to cover all areas of campus. “We look over the crimes and step up patrol in those areas that need it,” he said.