Two burglaries have been reported in Pardee Hall since mid-November, according to a report by public safety. The thefts, according to an email from Associate Director of Lafayette College Public Safety Jeffrey Troxell, were of personal items taken from unlocked offices in the building.

A report of the first burglary, which took place on Nov. 19, was not initially sent to students. However, the most recent theft on Wednesdayat approximately 10 a.m. has allegedly established a pattern, leading public safety to send a Clery notification for both burglaries to the campus community.

Under the Clery Act, a provision of Title IX that requires all colleges and universities who receive federal funding to inform the public of crimes in or around campus, emergency notifications must be sent out to campus if the crime presents a serious or continuing threat to the campus community.

To prevent further burglaries, public safety is conducting “extra patrols of the building; thorough investigation; crime notice to campus community and communication to department heads within Pardee Hall instructing staff to adhere to crime prevention tips,” Troxell wrote.
According to Vice President for Campus Life Annette Diorio, all of Lafayette’s residence halls are tightly regulated through controlled, electronic access and prop alarms. Academic buildings, on the other hand, are open during particular hours of the day, making them accessible to members of campus and campus visitors, but also more susceptible to burglary.

“Most of the theft on college campuses (ours included) is from unsecured locations,” Diorio wrote in an email. “I think students should be cautious with their belongings and secure them, lock their doors and carry their keys. In places like the library or academic buildings you should not walk away from your computers or tablets (or books).”

While residence halls may be better protected than academic buildings, they are not immune to burglary, especially over interim, according to Diorio.

“We’ve had a couple of break-ins over break periods in the past,” she said.

“One of the things that I often tell students is you have to think of your bedroom door in your place, either residence hall or apartment, like you would think of the front door of your house at home,” Diorio said. “If I were granted one wish, it would be that our students would always lock their door and carry their keys.”