2008 Woodie Awards
Open door results in theft at Heritage Commons
Caroline Briggs
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Campus
A theft occurred March 28 in Heritage Commons when sophomore Kendra Marchiondo was away from her apartment and the door was propped open.
According to police reports, Marchiondo alerted Miami University Police (MUPD) just before midnight Friday of an unknown person entering her apartment at Fisher Hall in Heritage Commons.
Marchiondo said the subject entered the unlocked apartment and took her wallet while residents were visiting another apartment. Later, the wallet was recovered in the bathroom, but $27 cash was missing from inside the wallet. Her purse and another change purse belonging to her friend containing about $30 is also missing.
Marchiondo said that in her experience living at Heritage Commons, she has always felt safe and protected. She said residents need to use a key card to enter the building and apartments, while each resident has a key to lock their personal doors. However, on Friday, Marchiondo said her door and her neighbor's door was propped open while they were hanging out across the hall.
"This was really our fault," Marchiondo said. "You trust your friends. This was obviously a snatch-and-grab thing. Our safe bubble was popped."
Marchiondo said about 20-25 people were in the general vicinity, as residents of Fisher Hall were preparing to leave for the evening. She said residents suspected that it was likely one of the guests that took the cash.
Marchiondo said that now she is less likely to trust her neighbors.
"I can't sleep without my door being locked," Marchiondo said. "I just don't trust people as much."
Marchiondo also noted that they chose to file a police report despite the fact the burglars didn't take much cash so that students would be aware of the prevalence of theft around campus.
This information bulletin is the 10th campus crime alert concerning a burglary this academic year. According to MUPD records, three of these alerts concern a series of burglaries. With the exception of an alert that was discovered to be unfounded, none of the campus crime alert cases have yet been solved.
Claire Wagner, assistant director of university communications, said the university follows strict guidelines when alerting the community to recent crimes, including identifying if the case appears to be a continuing threat.
Wagner said there were only six campus crime alerts in the 2006-07 academic year, with the last during that year released in April. Only two campus crime alerts concerned burglary last year, Wagner said.
"The problem is that students don't take time to lock their doors and windows," Wagner said. "By not taking responsibility, (students are) putting themselves and others at risk after several times of being reminded of safety concerns."
According to police reports, Marchiondo alerted Miami University Police (MUPD) just before midnight Friday of an unknown person entering her apartment at Fisher Hall in Heritage Commons.
Marchiondo said the subject entered the unlocked apartment and took her wallet while residents were visiting another apartment. Later, the wallet was recovered in the bathroom, but $27 cash was missing from inside the wallet. Her purse and another change purse belonging to her friend containing about $30 is also missing.
Marchiondo said that in her experience living at Heritage Commons, she has always felt safe and protected. She said residents need to use a key card to enter the building and apartments, while each resident has a key to lock their personal doors. However, on Friday, Marchiondo said her door and her neighbor's door was propped open while they were hanging out across the hall.
"This was really our fault," Marchiondo said. "You trust your friends. This was obviously a snatch-and-grab thing. Our safe bubble was popped."
Marchiondo said about 20-25 people were in the general vicinity, as residents of Fisher Hall were preparing to leave for the evening. She said residents suspected that it was likely one of the guests that took the cash.
Marchiondo said that now she is less likely to trust her neighbors.
"I can't sleep without my door being locked," Marchiondo said. "I just don't trust people as much."
Marchiondo also noted that they chose to file a police report despite the fact the burglars didn't take much cash so that students would be aware of the prevalence of theft around campus.
This information bulletin is the 10th campus crime alert concerning a burglary this academic year. According to MUPD records, three of these alerts concern a series of burglaries. With the exception of an alert that was discovered to be unfounded, none of the campus crime alert cases have yet been solved.
Claire Wagner, assistant director of university communications, said the university follows strict guidelines when alerting the community to recent crimes, including identifying if the case appears to be a continuing threat.
Wagner said there were only six campus crime alerts in the 2006-07 academic year, with the last during that year released in April. Only two campus crime alerts concerned burglary last year, Wagner said.
"The problem is that students don't take time to lock their doors and windows," Wagner said. "By not taking responsibility, (students are) putting themselves and others at risk after several times of being reminded of safety concerns."
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