Vehicle Thefts on Campus

By Alyssa Baker

AUBURN, Wash. — As more students return to the Green River campus, what can be done to protect vehicles from potential theft?

When parking your car in any of the Green River parking lots, there is a chance your car could be stolen.

Everett Tyrrell, assistant director of campus security, says there are several tips people can do to protect their vehicles

from theft. These include “install an audible alarm system and anti-theft device, install a tracking system or install a vehicle immobilizer system” which allows the car to only be started with the correct key.

According to Tyrrell, in comparing auto thefts from August to December 2020 to the same period in 2021 there was an increase of only one theft. In the fall of 2020, there was one car theft whereas in the fall of 2021 there were two cars stolen.

Though there are only around two cars stolen each year, the risk of having your vehicle stolen on campus still remains.

When looking at the information provided by Campus Security, the most popular vehicles stolen in recent years have been late 1990s to early 2000s cars with the most common being Hondas. Shown in the table below:

*Source: Everett Tyrrell, Assistant Director Campus Safety and Transportation*

While we are only in the first months of 2022 there have already been two vehicles stolen out of the parking lot at Green River in just January.

Derek Ronnfeldt, the head of campus security, said the vehicles were stolen on Jan, 15 and 21.

With crime on a rise, especially with how the car theft rates are this year thus far, always keep a watch of your surroundings and follow the tips above.