Four vehicles burglarized over 3-day period in Lot 106

Despite round-the clock patrols, Lot 106 was the site of a string of car burglaries last week, with thousands of dollars worth of stereo equipment stolen.

Between Feb. 14 and 16, five vehicles in Lot 106, an overnight parking lot located near the intersection of Wall and East Park streets, were burglarized. More than $2,600 worth of electronic equipment, including CDs, radar detectors and amplifiers, was stolen in the burglaries.

SIUC Police Director Todd Sigler said there are no suspects in the incidents and there is not enough evidence to indicate whether the same person was responsible for the four burglaries. Situated behind the triads, Allen and Boomer halls, Lot 106 is typically used by students living in the University Park and Schneider Hall area.

SIUC Police Captain Kay Doan said Lot 106 is one of the most frequently patrolled lots on campus by officers on foot and in cars. "We have burglaries there, but it is one of the lots we patrol more often," Doan said. "It has a greater number of people in it, it has a greater number of vehicles in it, so we do spend more time there."

In 2003, 10 vehicles in Lot 106 were burglarized and 17 others vandalized. Vandalisms in the lot decreased slightly to 14 in 2004, while burglaries remained at 10. In the same lot in January, a female student reported to police that while on her way to her car, she was thrown to the ground by a man who allegedly attempted to sexually assault her.

The student was able to break free from her attacker and run to a friend's house. Sigler said no arrests have been made in the case and there have been no further developments. Sigler declined to comment on whether any of the stolen stereo equipment had turned up at local pawnshops.

Employees of Midwest Cash, 1200 W. Main St., said anytime new items are brought into the shop, an itemized list is sent to police departments to cross reference with police reports. In an interview with the Daily Egyptian last week, Sigler said the Department of Public Safety and the Parking Division are trying to find a way to work funding for parking lot security cameras into their budget.

Sigler said although the project was approved last year, funding for the security cameras has yet to be released, citing heavy demands on the budget as the reason for the delay. "We're doing everything we can," Sigler said. "It is a very difficult situation to try to deal with."