A group of about 15 Sacramento State students met in Sutter Hall and shared their concerns about campus safety with Lt. Daniel Davis and Chief Ken Barnett of the University Police Department. –

The purpose of the March 4 forum was to help create a better flow of communication between students and campus police. –

“We want to reach out and partnership with everybody,” Davis said. Several students voiced concerns about recent automobile thefts. Barnett said that a rise in auto burglaries has occurred throughout Sac State and the surrounding area. –

Police have caught individuals using special devices, which allow them to gain access into a vehicle in seconds. –

The latest report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau names Sacramento as No. 7 on its list of areas with high auto thefts. –

The most common vehicles stolen or burglarized at Sac State are trucks and sport utility vehicles. –

Josh Bethany, a student at Sac State, said at the meeting that his car had been broken into on three separate occasions while parked on campus. –

“We can’t be everywhere every minute of every day,” said Barnett, who asked students to be aware of any suspicious activity on campus. “It’s hard to cover a campus like this without people letting us know what’s going on.”-

The department has many ways of tracking and spotting thieves on campus. For example, plain clothed officers are known to walk through campus parking lots looking for any would be thieves. –

According to police records, 34 motor vehicle thefts occurred on campus in 2002. In areas around the university referred to as public property, a total of 339 vehicle thefts occurred during the same year. –

Not all of the issues discussed at the meeting focused on automobiles. Students voiced concerns about ways to protect personal belongings, alcohol consumption and about outside lighting on campus. –

Police advise students to mark any valuables with a serial number. Once an item has been stolen, it can be tracked throughout the country by way of a national database. –

David Lee, hall director for the dorms at Sac State, said that programs were set up last semester to help students protect their valuables and learn more about safety. –

When the programs got underway, few students attended the meetings and only 30 participated in the serial numbering program. –

Police found that in the cases of property thefts, some students did not practice simple precautions. Often times, doors were left unlocked allowing crooks to gain access.-

“Most of the crime we have on campus are crimes of opportunity,” Davis said. Students at the meeting were strongly encouraged to share any information pertaining to crime with campus police.-

On the University Police’s Web site, students can post suggestions or tips. The dorms also have anonymous drop boxes for tips. –