Emmanuel has had a series of break-ins this semester, all of them involving vehicles. Most of the break-ins happened late in the night around 1-5 a.m.
While no signs of forced entry were seen at any of the events, victims did notice missing items from their vehicles. Items included purses, backpacks and computers.
Isaac Williams, a second-year Emmanuel student, was one victim who had his backpack taken. In that backpack contained textbooks, notebooks and an apple computer.
Emmanuel has had problems with break-ins in the past but were not often–one or two a semester.
“This has been a problem in the past,” Williams said. “However, this year it is a much bigger problem.”
According to Williams and police reports, the break-ins at Emmanuel have been occurring weekly since the beginning of the semester.
“Most of the vehicles being targeted had stuff left in the open,” Williams said.
He contacted the police when his car was broken into, but no report was found when Williams contacted the police the next day.
On Feb. 14, an adolescent was charged with the break-ins. The young adult was caught by Emmanuel Resident Director Kevin Hurley.
Hurley was on the lookout that day after hearing a report that another resident had his ripstick, a type of skateboard, stolen. This was around two in the afternoon.
“With all the break-in reports, I decided to keep an extra lookout,” Hurley said. “It was two boys; one had a backpack and both looked suspicious.”
The adolescent ran away before police arrived, but one resident was able to capture video evidence, which was passed on to police.
“One resident installed a GoPro outside their home,” Hurley said. “This was to try and find the culprits involved.”
Since then, police have been able to identify the burglars, and charges are being pressed. The 15-year-old boy did admit to taking the skateboard and another backpack that was taken later that day.
According to Elizabethton Police Detective Joe Harrah, this was not the young adult’s first offense.
While Milligan looks at ways to improve security at Emmanuel, students have come together to look out for each other’s property.
“The community has come together,” Hurley said. “Everyone is watching for things that might look strange or out of place.”
Hurley also said almost everyone had received their stolen property back.
“I would advise everyone to keep their vehicles locked,” he said.
One break-in was reported last semester. There have been three reports filed to Elizabethton Police this semester.