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Vehicle break-ins increase at MHCC
Public safety reports 13 more break-ins than same 2008 period
The Advocate
Vehicle break-ins in MHCC parking lots have increased from two to 15 in comparable periods between fall 2008 and fall 2009, according to MHCC Public Safety logs.
More specifically, in reports dated from Sept. 22 to Oct. 9, two vehicles were reported stolen, as well as nine CD players and two GPS units reported stolen from other vehicles in campus parking lots.
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Gresham police responded to a call over the weekend regarding property stolen from a Mt. Hood Community College campus parking lot near Visual Arts.
The property that had been stolen was five golf carts. The vehicles are owned by EC company. Interim Public Safety Lead Officer Wayne Feagle said that he had stopped a suspect cruising around campus in one of the stolen carts but declined to comment further due to Gresham Police classifying the thefts as “still under investigation.”
“We had two (reported crimes) on Thursday, Oct. 8. They broke a window and stole a GPS, and the other one they broke the driver side window and stole a CD player,” said Feagle.
The Public Safety report on the MHCC website shows that in 2007, 22 motor vehicle thefts occurred. Numbers for 2008 were not available, but in 2005 there were also 22 vehicles reported stolen and in 2006, 18 vehicles were reported stolen.
The college employs a number of full-time and part-time Public Safety officers. There are officers on duty 24 hours a day.
Public Safety officers offer the following advice to prevent thefts from vehicles: always lock your car; if you are on campus after dark, move your car to a closer spot; have classmates walk you to your car, then drive them to theirs; know the location of the emergency/information telephones; and use the escort service by dialing 7310 from any campus phone. In an effort to help prevent break-ins, do not leave valuables in your car.
“For crime prevention, we have flyers which are available for anybody. We do presentations at the new students’ orientation, and anytime anyone has a class or GED they request us to come and give a presentation. We try to make people aware of what the issues are, what kind of crimes happen here. We want to stop crime, that’s the whole purpose,” said Feagle.
The Public Safety Department closely coordinates its activities with the Gresham and Troutdale police departments and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
If anyone sees anything or anyone who appears suspicious, contact Public Safety at (503) 491-7310 or dialing 33 from any campus phone.
The Advocate reserves the right to not publish comments based on their appropriateness.