How Safe Are the Campus Parking Lots?

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DENVER, Auraria Campus — Car thefts and damage is always a scary situation you could be faced with when parking in garages, lots, or parallel on side streets. With so many different places to park around campus, and with many of those places being located far away from frequently trafficked areas, this puts you at a higher risk.

From December 2013 to April 2014, there were over 50 cases reported to the Auraria Police Station of traffic accidents, break-ins, hit-and-runs, or people “keying” cars. With students putting their trust in the school to watch their cars while in class, how is this giving reassurance? It’s understandable that anywhere you park you’re always at risk for any amount of damage to be down to your car. But it’s nothing you think will happen to you.

After asking 60 students on campus about automobile accidents, only 20 of them had never had anything happen on campus. Many had their car broken into, things taken and scratches or dents made. Many of the students trusted in the school and their campus authority to protect their items.

Chase Guner, a sophomore at CCD, had “only parked in the 7^th Street Garage once. My car was broken into and my backpack and some electronics were taken. I filed a police report, but nothing was ever done about it. I mean, they never found the guy.”

There were other stories like this one, with cars being broke into and nobody caught with any items.

“I never had anything stolen out of my car but it was keyed, about 12 inches down the right side. It’s not something you think of happening until it actually does. You think the school is watching all the time, but they can’t be everywhere at once,” said Maddy Carlson, a junior at Metro State. The scratch had happened in February and it was still there.

The campus authority is here to keep the students safe, and they do. But going to school in an urban environment with Downtown only seconds from the campus, things happen with people from off campus as well.

“I have had dents and things on my car after coming back out from classes last semester. It was something that happens, not a big deal, I can barely tell they’re there anymore,” said Lawrence Mardana, a sophomore at Metro State.

One thing that you can do as a student to protect your items inside your car and outside your car, is to hide the things you keep in your car. Not under a coat in the back seat. But in your trunk or actually under the seat are the best places.

Another thing you can do is park in well-lit areas–especially if you are on campus after dusk. You can park near busy places, by sidewalks and buildings so that you are around other people if anything does happen.

It’s always a good idea to invest in an alarm system, and it doesn’t have to be anything fancy. As long as it makes loud noises and can deter a thief, it’s doing its job.

Stay safe and smart out there Road Runners!