Spring break provides an excellent opportunity for burglars to prey on empty campus apartments. University and city police agree that with the majority of students gone, dorms, Campustown apartments and unattended vehicles are especially vulnerable.

Last year during spring break, $3,185 worth of merchandise was stolen from Campustown apartments and cars in Champaign alone, according to Champaign Police Department statistics. Stereos, speakers and computers were stolen most frequently during last year’s break, totaling $2,600 in value. None of the merchandise was recovered, according to the statistics.

“It’s more difficult for us to detect burglaries (during breaks),” said Lt. Holly Nearing of the Champaign police. “Normally, people call in when they see or hear something suspicious, but no one’s around.”

Champaign residences are generally hit the most during breaks, probably because more students live there than in Urbana, police said. There were four residential burglaries and six vehicle burglaries in Champaign during last year’s break. During the longer winter break this year, $53,919 worth of merchandise was stolen in 103 incidents in Champaign. Only $4,980 worth was recovered, according to the statistics.

Vehicles are particularly easy targets because they are left unattended and outside and most garages have no security, Nearing said. People tend to leave loose items in their cars and a burglar can easily steal them, she said.

“(Car theft is) both a crime of opportunity and a planned event. We have more vehicles (burglarized) than anything,” Nearing said.

The residence halls are a little safer because they are locked up during break time, but they are also vulnerable to burglary, said Kris Fitzpatrick, assistant chief of the University police. The residence halls are also staffed during breaks so more people are around to notice when something is out of order, Fitzpatrick said.

The University police also shifts its focus slightly during breaks. Sgt. Tony Brown, of the University police, said that when most of the students leave campus, the police look out for property a little more and it is easier to spot suspicious behavior among the people who stay on campus.

The number-one thing students can do to protect themselves from burglary is to take their belongings with them, the officers said. Even though only a small percentage of apartments and residence halls get burglarized, there are always incidents, Brown said. Things that are small and valuable, such as laptop or desktop computers, are at high risk, he said.

Another preventive measure is to close the drapes or cover the windows of an apartment, which can help lower the crimes of opportunity, Brown said.