Cougar Village break-in sparks crime alert
Kenneth Long
Issue date: 6/25/08 Section: News
A series of burglaries followed by a profane comment scratched into the door of a Cougar Village Apartment last week has left SIUE Police with no leads and the residents of the apartment worried.
Sophomore international business major Evin Opp of Pinckneyville said the initial break in of her apartment happened Tuesday, June 17 while she was at work. After being informed by SIUE police of the break in, she returned to her 500 side apartment to find it in disarray.
"The living room and kitchen areas were torn apart, and everything had been fingerprinted," Opp said.
One of the bedrooms had also been scoured for valuables, Opp said.
"The computer and other electronics were unplugged and wrapped up," Opp said. "It looked like (the burglars) had gotten startled before they got to my room."
According to SIUE Police Chief Regina Hays, the burglar kicked in the front door of the apartment, ransacked the apartment and stole cash, credit cards, jewelry and a camera.
"Usually when there is a theft, it's when people are having parties or when they leave windows open," Hays said. "It's uncommon for an actual breaking and entering."
Opp said her roommate's stolen credit card had been used in Missouri to buy speakers over the Internet.
Students received a crime alert e-mail Wednesday, June 18 informing them of the break-in. Hays said the students were notified of the burglary via e-mail because of the type of crime that occurred.
"The Campus Security Act requires that we provide students warnings of crimes in this category," Hays said.
On Thursday, June 19 one of Opp's roommates noticed that approximately $130 was missing from her purse. SIUE Police responded to the report that night.
The next day, the door to the apartment had been vandalized with the phrase "Bonnaroo B----" scratched into the door. Opp and her roommates had gone to The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival earlier that week. Police responded to the apartment for the third time in a week.
Sophomore international business major Evin Opp of Pinckneyville said the initial break in of her apartment happened Tuesday, June 17 while she was at work. After being informed by SIUE police of the break in, she returned to her 500 side apartment to find it in disarray.
"The living room and kitchen areas were torn apart, and everything had been fingerprinted," Opp said.
One of the bedrooms had also been scoured for valuables, Opp said.
"The computer and other electronics were unplugged and wrapped up," Opp said. "It looked like (the burglars) had gotten startled before they got to my room."
According to SIUE Police Chief Regina Hays, the burglar kicked in the front door of the apartment, ransacked the apartment and stole cash, credit cards, jewelry and a camera.
"Usually when there is a theft, it's when people are having parties or when they leave windows open," Hays said. "It's uncommon for an actual breaking and entering."
Opp said her roommate's stolen credit card had been used in Missouri to buy speakers over the Internet.
Students received a crime alert e-mail Wednesday, June 18 informing them of the break-in. Hays said the students were notified of the burglary via e-mail because of the type of crime that occurred.
"The Campus Security Act requires that we provide students warnings of crimes in this category," Hays said.
On Thursday, June 19 one of Opp's roommates noticed that approximately $130 was missing from her purse. SIUE Police responded to the report that night.
The next day, the door to the apartment had been vandalized with the phrase "Bonnaroo B----" scratched into the door. Opp and her roommates had gone to The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival earlier that week. Police responded to the apartment for the third time in a week.
Be the first to comment on this story