Issue date: 8/17/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Steve Berry Junior Matt Tempia's Mazda 626 was broken into twice last fall while parked on campus. More than 100 theft reports were recorded during the 2006-07 school year.

SIUE police responded July 3 to a report of plants being dug up and stolen from Woodland Hall. One week later, a data projector, valued at $5,000, was reported missing from Dunham Hall. The projector was last seen July 5. Two days after the projector was reported missing from Dunham Hall a student's laptop, charger and paper scanner were reportedly nabbed from the same building.

SIUE Police Lt. Kevin Schmoll recognizes theft as a problem on campus and says it is "our No. 1 crime."

Schmoll said as of July 26, there have been 105 reports of theft on campus, 57 of which are burglary theft from a vehicle.

On one day in April - Friday the 13th, by coincidence - 13 vehicles were broken into.

Recent SIUE graduate Jay Jaeger decided to start a Facebook group after his Chevy S-10 X-treme was broken into on campus. The group is called, "SIUE Theft on Campus. Where are the Cameras?" They advocate the installation of surveillance cameras in the parking lots. The Facebook group has 376 members.

One member, Matt Tempia, had his car broken into twice within a four-month time span.

Tempia said the first time was in October 2006. He reported the break in and theft of a DVD player head unit to SIUE police.

"That's all they stole, but they knocked out a lock on my passenger side door, and they cracked the front panel around the head unit," Tempia said.

Tempia said in February, thieves did it again.

He had the lock and vehicle DVD player replaced by insurance and the thieves broke the lock and grabbed the DVD player again.

Tempia said thieves also stole a gym bag containing an MP3 player, sneakers, and an Air Force uniform.

"They hit me harder the second time, actually," Tempia said.

Jay Jaeger and Matt Tempia appeared on a May 4 Fox 2 News story about car break-ins at SIUE.

Director of Administrative Services Bob Vanzo said SIUE is "currently in discussion" about installing surveillance cameras in the parking lots. Vanzo said administrators have met with a consultant, but cameras are "still under consideration because it's very expensive."

In the meantime, Schmoll said, "Lock doors in vehicles and keep valuables out of plain sight."

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