Safety Concerns with Parking

Three weeks ago around two in the morning, a University of Tampa student found his car broken into and vandalized.

His car was parked in the commuter lot behind the abandoned Valencia Gardens Restaurant. It was pitch black. There were no cameras and no one in sight.

The roof of his soft-top convertible was slashed open and various items were missing. Immediately he went to the Safety and Security Office, where he reported the incident. The student was escorted back to his car by an officer, who took pictures and further questioned him according to protocol.

After all was said and done, the student was left with about $800 in damage and lost property with absolutely no leads.

It has been one year since the commuter lot was opened. With parking being a hot-button issue on campus for numerous students, many were relieved to hear that the administration was finally hearing their cries for more spaces to accommodate UT’s growing population by opening the lot to commuters.

However, many students are now questioning whether or not the commuter lot is a safe place to park their vehicles.

“When I first heard about the new commuter lot, I was excited that there would be more parking options for commuter students. But when I saw the location, I was surprised that it was in such an open area. I mean anybody could just jump the fence and come in. It’s [almost] on the outside of the campus,” said a female commuter student.

The commuter lot at night is dark, there is barely any lighting, no cameras and although security officers make rounds every fifteen minutes, there still seems to be enough space and opportunity for a car to be broken into, stolen or robbed, leaving many students to deal with the consequences.

With all the initiatives and steps forward the administration and security are making to help keep students safe on and off campus, the question many are asking now is, “What is UT doing to help keep students’ vehicles safe on campus?”

Statistically, according to the UT Annual Security Report, there have only been 13 motor vehicle thefts on campus in the last three years.

While numbers may seem low now, many are considering the fact that the UT campus resides in an urban area where crime rates are statistically higher.

From the sheer number of robberies, assaults and murders that have been committed against members of the UT community, it’s no wonder that safety and security on- and off-campus is a top priority. In addition, UT is an open campus not guarded by gates or fences; it hosts weddings, soccer games and various other events, which leaves it vulnerable to the public.

Many students are wondering why all of our buildings, parking garages and lots go without video cameras.

“I pay way too much money here for the university not to have more cameras and stuff watching the open areas of campus,” said a junior male student. “…before they built that chapel, they should have invested money in more security.”

There have even been unconfirmed reports that the University may be spending more money making the campus look good, rather than funding its security efforts.

While officials in Safety and Security say that this is false and that they have in fact upgraded their security technology on campus, the facts have yet to be uncovered.

Some students believe that there is only so much the University can do to protect students from vehicle thefts and break-ins, and that it is the responsibility of the students to protect themselves.

The Safety and Security Office has outlined on their website the following ways that students can help guard themselves:
* Don’t leave your vehicle running or the keys in it, even for a minute.
* Always lock your vehicle.
* Use “The Club” or a similar device. It is a good visual theft deterrent.
* Remember to activate your vehicle alarm.
* Do not ignore a vehicle alarm — call campus security immediately.
* Do not leave valuables (cell phones, packages, etc.) in plain view inside your vehicle.
* Do not leave your vehicle unlocked when returning to your room.
*Do not leave unattended items in the hallway.
*If you have a bicycle, lock it to a solid, fixed object, or store it in the secured Thomas Parking Garage bicycle storage area.

Alyssa Major can be reached at amhoward@spartans.ut.edu.