Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer

The parking lot of De Anza Community College has been stung with a rash of break-ins. Six cars have been stolen from the lot in recent weeks. Director of Campus Safety Ben Rodriguez speculates a theft-ring may be at work.

De Anza parking lot hit with car thefts

String of thefts mostly hits Hondas

By KEVIN FAYLE

As if De Anza College hasn't had enough problems lately, it appears the college may have a ring of car thieves to worry about.

In recent weeks, the college has reported six cars stolen from its parking lots. Because the stolen cars were mainly Hondas, campus security believes the thefts could represent the concerted efforts of professional thieves.

Though Director of Campus Safety Ben Rodriguez notes one of the "thefts" was, in fact, a car tow, he acknowledges that several Hondas have disappeared from the campus over the past month.

The problem, he says, lies with the fact that De Anza parking lots hold a high concentration of every car conceivable, making it an attractive target for car thieves. Rodriguez says campus safety does everything it can to protect its community's property, but "the units on patrol are small compared to the students here."

The thefts don't occur because of any lack of effort on the part of campus safety. "We're going around this campus until we're dizzy," Rodriguez says. Keeping an eye on 5,000 spaces presents some logistical problems, though, and Rodriguez says car thieves can spot patrols coming and hide out until they leave. "These guys are good, they're professional," he states.

Rodriguez warns that any discussion of a ring of thieves must be considered speculative, but he adds, "I think it's a certain group maybe. I think people are getting hit all over town." In fact, another string of auto burglaries occurred on Homestead Road and Forge Way two weeks ago.

"Hopefully, they'll get greedy," Rodriguez muses. "Hopefully we'll get a lead or something will break." He says the campus goes through streaks when they suffer rashes of auto thefts, during which they rely on concerned citizens around the colleges to report suspicious activities. He says that several times a call from a resident will result in an arrest and a recovered car.

The sheriff's office also represents an integral component in the college's battle with car theft, according to Rodriguez. The West Valley division once arrested a ring of five people, he says. "They clean up the colleges a lot."

"Hopefully we'll get some citizen contact," he says. "Until then, we'll just stay out there and hope that something breaks."

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