East Campus has seen a sharp increase in reported thefts and burglaries this semester, with 13 verified incidents reported at Cal State Monterey Bay since classes began, compared with one during the same period in each of the previous two years.
Despite three arrests over the past week, reports of theft have continued. University Police Chief Yvonne Gordon said the department received reports of four additional thefts the morning of Oct. 9, underscoring the department’s ongoing investigation into incidents involving unlocked vehicles, garages and living spaces.
Police believe many of the incidents involve “crimes of opportunity,” with individuals checking whether vehicles and other spaces have been left unlocked.
According to Gordon, some individuals have been opening vehicle doors and taking items from inside. In other cases, a vehicle may contain a garage door opener (this is in the case of East Campus faculty housing) that allows someone to enter an attached garage.
“A lot of times the burglary element can stem from the theft. So if they go into an unlocked car and there’s a garage door opener, they open the garage and now it’s a burglary going into that garage.”
Although police have arrested three people over the past three weeks, Gordon said investigators have not determined whether the recent incidents involve the same individuals.
Among those arrested were a parolee and an associate of his, neither of whom were affiliated with the campus, Gordon said, “It could lead to the conclusion that maybe it is a team of people, or a group or they’re telling your friends,” Gordon said.
According to Gordon, the detective assigned to the case is conducting comparative analysis of the incidents to identify potential patterns in behavior, locations and time frames. Gordon said investigators are using that information to help determine where and when officers should focus their patrols.
The department has also received video footage from East Campus residents. Gordon said several residents provided footage following the incidents reported Oct. 9, and police plan to release footage of a person captured on camera in connection with that morning’s activity. No arrest had been made in that incident at the time of the interview.
Gordon said there have been previous periods when East Campus experienced a surge in burglaries, but those incidents typically subsided after police identified and arrested a suspect.
“This time, it just hasn’t stopped,” Gordon said. “So it’s very unusual.”
Gordon said the reported incidents have occurred in different parts of East Campus, although faculty and staff spaces have been affected more frequently than student residential areas.
The department has encouraged students, faculty and staff to take precautions as the investigation continues. In a campus safety notice, the University Police Department urged community members to lock vehicle doors, secure doors and windows, avoid allowing unknown individuals into secured buildings and promptly reporting suspicious activity or crimes.
Gordon emphasizes that securing vehicles and residences can help prevent opportunistic theft. Residents who keep automatic garage door openers inside their vehicles should consider disabling the opener when it is not in use, she said.
“Things that are really mobile, or you know, trackable. So bicycles and things like that. Putting tracking devices on them is a great idea,” Gordon said. She emphasized that the information from stolen property can help the police identify and potentially recover it.
Students considering installing personal security cameras or alarm systems in their residences should first obtain approval from campus housing, Gordon said.
“Because they have certain rules over there because depending on where you live, we can’t have recordings like say, facing somebody’s door where then it’s an invasion of privacy.”
Gordon went on to explain how UPD patrols East Campus regularly but must also respond to calls for service and fulfill other responsibilities. Investigators use reported incidents and available footage to estimate where additional patrols may be most effective.
Gordon acknowledged that some students may feel uncomfortable approaching police, but encouraged community members to communicate with officers about safety concerns.
“I know it’s not the most comfortable relationship sometimes,” Gordon said. “So just encouraging people that, you know, we’re approachable and we’re actually here to ensure their safety.”
Students can follow UPD’s Instagram account, campus announcements and CSUMB’s crime logs for updates on reported incidents and safety information.