Fraternities plagued by summer crime

Boys, lock your doors. In the past three weeks, fraternity houses have been the target of choice for local burglars, according to University Police Sergeant Keith Christian. The Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Phi Sigma Kappa fraternities have all been broken into since the beginning of summer session, Christian said last night. Christian added that "fraternities are targets due to low occupancy and unsecure facilities," especially in the summer. Christian also relates this increase in crime to pure "negligence". "[Fraternities] let their guard down," he said. "There are no signs of forced entry -- windows are left open and doors are unlocked". Christian explained that because more protective measures are not taken by fraternity residents, it is easy for a criminal to "get into the building and take things out." Located at 3700 Locust Walk, Phi Delt has been burglarized five times this summer, although no incidents involved forced entries, Christian said. In one of the more costly robberies, a student's computer and stereo equipment were stolen from a fourth floor room of the fraternity house last week, according to University Police records. Brothers from both Phi Delt and SAE have also had bicycles stolen during the past few weeks, the records state. University Police Sergeant Michael Fink said he recommends that students take several safety precautions to protect themselves from the steady influx of crime during the summer months: · Keep all windows and doors locked0. · Rreplace burnt out exterior lights. · Don't let strangers into the building. "And transfer to Bryn Mawr," Christian added with a smile. Not all fraternities have fallen victim to burglaries in the recent weeks. College junior Ed McBride, an Alpha Tau Omega brother, said his fraternity's dog, Wiley, has kept the Locust Walk house safe from harm. "He knows everyone that lives in the house and everyone that doesn't," McBride said. "And he'll bark if a stranger comes along." He added that ATO follows one of Fink's safety tips by making sure that "our doors and windows are always locked at night." ATO's location near the University Police station, at 225 South 39th Street, could also play a role in it's safety, 1994 College graduate Lance Dunlop said. "We probably haven't had any robberies because we are in eye contact with the police department," he said. Although the amount of burglaries fraternity houses this summer seems to be rising with the temperatures, it is actually over winter break when fraternity crime reaches an all-time high. At least eleven burglaries were reported to the University Police over the 1993 winter vacation, while still others went unreported. The Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity was burglarized six times then, and a brother from the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity also lost $1,200.