The following is an advisory from the Department of Public Safety:

Since the start of the Spring 2006 semester, four motor vehicles have been reported stolen from campus parking lots. Three of the four vehicles were taken from Parking Lot M, and the fourth was taken from Parking Lot D.

There have also been four burglaries to motor vehicles since the start of the Spring 2006 semester. In three of the four burglaries, the vehicles were left unsecured, and no forced entry was noted. In all four instances, personal property was removed from the vehicles. In two other cases, vehicle headlight housings were opened and/or destroyed so that the headlamp bulb assemblies could be removed.

The four vehicles reported stolen were all Hondas or Acuras. That is consistent with the findings of the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), which reports that the nation’s car thieves continue to favor imports over domestic brands as their primary targets.

The Public Safety Department needs your help in stopping and deterring car thefts and burglaries. The number one way that you can help is to become an involved member of our community. Lend us your eyes and ears. If you see any suspicious activity or suspicious persons in or around any of the campus parking lots, don’t hesitate to call and report this to the Public Safety Department.

Please remember to keep all your vehicle’s doors locked at all times and to set your car’s alarm. You can make a great investment by purchasing an “Auto Club.” These units not only work but create an excellent visual deterrent. A car thief will skip over your car and look for an easier target. It’s also a good idea to keep your car’s interior free of expensive property items. Cell phones, iPods, and laptops left in your vehicle are open invitations to an auto burglar. You should also remove stereo CD players every time you walk away from your car.

For additional information on preventing car thefts and burglaries, you can call Crime Prevention Officer Lou Natal at 768-7854.

Any person who has information regarding any of the vehicle thefts or burglaries is asked to call the Department of Public Safety at 768-7985 or stop in at the Public Safety Office. Information related to any of these incidents may also be called in to the UH Public Safety Anonymous TIP Line at 768-7827.

Judy Carlson
Director of Public Safety

Dear Ms. Carlson,
Just yesterday I was working on my Integra and a Public safety officer
drove right past me and didnt even stop or think twice about me. I find this VERY disturbing. It was late at night and I was hanging out the side of my car looking under the dashboard, his spotlights were on as if he was looking for illegal parkers.

As for the thefts as an owner of a once stolen Integra I can tell you
NOTHING will stop the theives, the only way would be to allow all those with high risk vehicles (Honda Civics and Acura Integras) to park infront of Public Safety. It may seem an inconvience to you but I fear that anything else isnt helping-- these people are smart, they have been known to tow cars if all else fails.

Thank you for the warning,
MY NAME
Concerned Student and Honda Enthusiast

PS--
The club is NOT an effective deterent, the wheel can easily be sawed and the club removed.

An AutoLock for the clutch or gas pedal requires much more work to
remove. This has been shown in many instances.