County police are investigating three burglaries at College Park Towers early Tuesday morning when most residents were sound asleep.
A man entered the apartment complex on Knox Road between 5:45 and 6:30 a.m., opened unlocked doors and stole various personal belongings while victims were sleeping feet away in their bedrooms. No force was used in any of the break-ins.
Police were notified later in the day when victims woke up to find their laptops and iPods missing. The building is equipped with security cameras, and police expect to release an enhanced image of the suspect as early as this afternoon.
Residents of the apartments said the camera system offered them a sense of comfort prior to the incident.
“With the cameras, you don’t really think somebody’s just going to come in here and take stuff,” said sophomore business major Evan Teicher, who lost his iPod. “I guess they’re only good if you can catch the guy right away.”
Sophomore letters and sciences major Michael Spira-Gutner said he usually locks his doors when he goes to bed but forgot on the night before the suspect took his laptop and iPod. Now he’s more cautious.
“I used to think it was OK as long as we were in the apartment,” he said. “Now I’m going to lock the door when I take naps during the day.”
Police did not send crime alerts about the incident. University Police spokesman Capt. John Brandt said Prince George’s County Police asked him to withhold a crime alert to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing investigation. Since the area is within county jurisdiction, University Police complied.
Site manager Kenneth Gibbs sent out a memorandum to Towers residents Tuesday evening, notifying them about the burglaries and reminding them to double lock doors, secure valuables and be wary of strangers attempting to enter the building.
Four county police officers went to the building Wednesday night to talk to residents, post door hangers with safety tips and check whether residents were locking their doors.
Sgt. Matt Stauffer, a District 1 officer, estimated 20 percent of the condos had unlocked doors, even though many residents in the unsecured apartments knew about the burglaries.
“No one kicked in windows, broke down doors or forced their way inside. They just walked in,” Stauffer said. “If people would just secure their residences, it would make it a lot easier for us.”
Richard Jacobs, the president of the board for College Park Towers, could not be reached for comment.
Teicher owned up to his mistake and said it’s one he won’t make again.
“It’s hard to blame management – someone let someone shady in, and our door was unlocked,” he said. “I’m never going to leave the door unlocked again. Lesson learned.”
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