The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Thanksgiving burglars on the prowl

More than 11 homes were burglarized during the Thanksgiving break, and officials from the Carbondale Police Department expect the number to go up as more reports are filed throughout the week.

Officer Randy Mathis said it is too early to compare the numbers to years past, but said residential burglaries typically jump during University breaks.

For Alan Vasquez, an SIUC alumnus and local musician, this fact rang all too true.

Vasquez had more than $1,400 worth of property stolen from his house on the 300 Block of West Oak Street, including two guitars, two CD players, a VCR and an assortment of CD's. Items that, for a musician, are vital to his livelihood.

"For the most part, I was pretty lucky," Vasquez said. "I was gone at a show, so most of my equipment I had with me. But this is still detrimental to what I do, this is how I make money - it's my life.

"I've lived in this house for three and a half years. I had a routine. I always practiced here, now there isn't a chance in hell I'm keeping my stuff here."

Vasquez said the burglar, who slashed a screen and slipped in through an unlocked window has shaken his sense of security.

"One of my neighbors has lived on this street for eight years and never dealt with anything like this," Vasquez said. "Now we have to watch ourselves. Just like that, the tables turn, and it sucks."

Vasquez said he did not know he could sign up for a house watch program through the police department, but said he will definitely consider it for the future.

Overall, more than 70 people signed up for the watch over Thanksgiving break, which Mathis said "definitely acts as a deterrent."

And while Vasquez spent most of Wednesday morning searching pawn shops for his belongings, the police gave him a sliver of hope later in the day.

"They said they think they may have found my electric guitar at a pawn shop," Vasquez said. "They didn't find any prints at my house, but they dusted for them, and I guess that's all they can really do. I have a good feeling it's mine though."

 

 

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