The Peak, Simon Fraser University's Student Newspaper since 1965, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6, e-mail: epeak@mail.peak.sfu.ca, phone: (604) 291-3597 fax: (604) 291-3786
Volume 93, Issue 8 June 24, 1996 News 

Campus plagued by auto theft

by Janine Dusoewoir

Vehicle owners beware: SFU's Burnaby Mountain campus has been host to an increasing number of car thefts since the beginning of this year, particularly within the past month. During 1994, 10 vehicles were stolen from the campus; during 1995, 12 vehicles were reported stolen. Since the beginning of 1996, however, 19 car thefts have occurred on campus, and seven of these took place in May. The most common vehicles to be stolen on campus are Honda Preludes and Honda Civics, mainly models from 1991 and 1992.

Campus security programs coordinator Jake Meijer says that a group of thieves from off-campus may be responsible for that latest increase in auto thefts. "My past experience with auto thefts is that they occur in cycles," he says. "Theft from and of vehicles has always been our biggest problem at SFU. Past experience has indicated that the thieves are usually not SFU students." Meijer suspects that the thieves may be a group of adolescents seeking joyride vehicles. "The types of vehicles which are stolen are generally not too pricey, so I don't imagine they are being stolen for parts," he says.

Meijer says that Campus Security is hoping to purchase a closed-circuit television system to monitor the roadway between B and G lots. "We've managed to block most of the exits at the west end of B lot, so that car thieves have only one direction in which to exit," he says. The camera monitoring system of the roadway would record information about vehicles leaving the lots in this direction, and may help catch those responsible for the thefts.

More car thefts seem to be happening off the hill as well. In district two (from Holdom Avenue west to North Road) 804 vehicles were reported stolen in 1995, compared with only 543 in 1994. Between January and April of 1996, 326 vehicles were reported stolen in the same district. Constable Anick Proulx of the Burnaby RCMP says that during 1995 the most commonly stolen vehicles were Datsuns, Hondas, and various models of mini-vans. "I'm not sure that the statistics are any different for 1996," says Proulx, "but thieves seem to commonly go for these types of vehicles."

Meijer says that the best way to keep your car safe is common sense. "Put your valuables out of sight, and keep your windows rolled up, even though it's hot in the summer." He says that security patrols of the lots have also been stepped up in an attempt to catch the individuals responsible.


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