Kennesaw State’s Department of Public Safety and University Police documented six cases of property damage at the university’s parking decks, parking lots and on-campus residential housing between Feb. 5 and Feb. 6.
At 9:45 a.m. on Feb. 5, the first incidence of property damage in a series of six occurred in the Central Deck on the Kennesaw campus, according to the KSU public crime logs.
Another five cases of property damage occurred in the following 48 hours, all taking place in a parking deck, parking lot or at a residential complex.
On Feb. 5, three additional incidents were reported. These incidents were documented to have taken place between 1:56 p.m. and 2:18 p.m. in the East Parking Deck, between 6:57 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. in the Central Parking Deck and between 8 a.m. and 10:05 p.m. at the Austin Residential Complex, according to the daily crime log.
A fifth and sixth incident of property damage occurred on Feb. 6 at the East Parking Lot and the North Parking Deck, according to the daily crime log.
Lt. Christian Shepherd, watch commander-D shift with KSUPD, explained that one of a criminal’s primary concerns is an easy outcome and the least amount of resistance possible in the execution of their crime.
Shepherd highlighted the importance of parking in well-lit areas, keeping valuables out of sight, purchasing a car alarm and locking your car door. He added that criminals are deterred by any instance that would draw attention to them in the execution of the crime.
Shepherd said that cars left in the same spot for an extended period of time, such as a parking lot or deck, are especially appealing targets to criminals. Shepherd highlighted a lack of locking one’s car door as a potential cause for targeting in property damage cases.
“Criminals may enter into a parking deck and pull on car doors,” Shepherd said. “They are looking for that door that isn’t locked. This is an easy target and requires no breaking of glass, and the theft can be committed very fast.”
To prevent what law enforcement refers to as an “easy mark,” Shepherd explained the concept of victim hardening in which one implements “the practice of taking a series of simple, yet effective, measures to make it harder for a criminal to victimize you and thereby removing a criminal’s opportunity.”
Shepherd concluded by saying that if anything ever seems out of place, students should call the authorities, and they will come to investigate the situation and potentially prevent incidents such as these from occurring.
To contact KSUPD, visit their website at www.police.kennesaw.edu.
