Six break-ins have occurred this school year on campus, with more than 13 rooms broken into, according to Chris Cline, media relations co-ordinator at Carleton. This represents a significant increase compared to just two last year and only one the year before.
Cabinets were torn open and papers scattered in Elsie Clement’s office in Loeb Building on Feb. 4.
“It took me a few seconds to realize . . . my computer was gone,” Clement said. Clement is the administrator for the geography and environmental studies department.
Break-ins occurred in three other buildings— the Architecture, Mackenzie, and St. Patrick’s buildings— between January and early February.
As for vehicles on campus, more than 10 cars were broken into last school year. That is about twice as many as times as the year of 2009. There was only one car break-in this year.
Although Cline said all significant incidents are reported on the website, the site excluded the two break-ins of 2011.
“In some cases, the suspect is known to us, and the incident is an isolated one with no further threat or risk to the community,” Cline said.
The break-ins this year happened in offices both with and without swipe-card access.
For example, somebody pried open Clement’s wooden office door with a crowbar-like tool.
To cover the damage, Clement’s office installed had a metal plate installed around the edge of the door.
University safety will report back to Clement with ideas to improve security this week, Clement said.
Areas with swipe-only access are also being affected.
Although a silent alarm notifies security officers of forced entry, Tracey Wright, administrator for the School of Linguistics and Language Studies, said a computer was stolen within three minutes of the alarm going off.
