Many students say they don’t feel safe on the Fresno State campus

Campus safety has been on the minds of many students since the article on car break-ins happening in the parking lots on campus appeared in the Fresno State student-run paper, The Collegian.

Five vehicle burglaries and two auto thefts happened on the Fresno State campus between August and January of this school year, according to the Fresno State Police Department. The most recent car theft occurred in lot P30 nearest to the library, and several break-ins happened in the parking lot of the Delta Gamma Sorority.

“There’s a couple of girls who got their car broken into. I was one of them,” said Delta Gamma Sorority member Kendall Saunders. “And then a girl in Theta had her actual car stolen, and I feel like through that it’s made me a little on edge.”

The Fresno State Police Department uses multi-tiered patrol to maintain a visible presence in all parking lots on and around campus.

“Our police officers and the patrol vehicles are consistently driving through,” said Amy Luna, manager of Fresno State Emergency Operations.” We also have our community service specialists who are enforcing parking, who are in the parking lot. And then we also have our student assistants to our public safety assistants who make checks through the parking lot.”

An important piece of Fresno State policing is students and staff members staying alert on campus and keeping their property safe. The most important thing drivers can do is always make sure their car is locked. Items of value that can be seen on the front or back seats of vehicles should always be put in the trunk where they are safe and out of sight. 

Fresno State Police also want students to use the blue Emergency boxes any time they feel unsafe on campus or see any suspicious activity. Students and staff are also encouraged to call or text the anonymous tip line at (559) 664-3204 to report suspicious activity. 

“When our community works together by sharing information and reporting criminal activity, that helps us,” Luna said.