A shattered windshield. Glass everywhere. A mason jar filled with ping-pong balls. What could it all mean?
For some students these absurd circumstances became a harsh reality when they saw that their cars had been broken into while parked on campus.
There have been recent reports of someone smashing in car windows with mason jars. These jars have been filled with either ping-pong balls or liquid and appear to be thrown through the cars’ front or back windshields.
“I found out my car was vandalized (when) a public safety officer knock(ed) on my door and inform(ed) me very early in the morning,” said senior Justin Bradley. “I was shocked and highly upset and did not want to believe it was mine.”
Other students have also discovered these incidents in disbelief.
“Last Saturday night, I was with two others in the Bryan parking lot, and we noticed a car’s back windshield that had a huge hole smashed through it,” said junior Grier Cross. “We inspected the inside and noticed a mason jar full of water and, oddly, ping-pong balls with glass around (them).”
While these strange instances of vandalism have only happened a few times, even one incident is enough to raise community concern.
“We noticed this has been happening to newer cars,” said Cross. “We are not sure who is doing it … or if certain people are being targeted.”
These disturbances have raised alarm and cause many to question campus safety.
Some students wonder what will be done about the vandalism, as it has been a recurring issue all year.
“Well, nothing has happened either time afterwards,” said junior Michael MacVane, a victim of the latest car vandalism. “I have filed a report both times and nothing was done about it. There is no way to prevent it unless we get cameras in the parking lot.”
Installing cameras in the parking lots is appealing to MacVane, especially after these recent incidents.
“Yes, there should be cameras installed in the parking lots,” said MacVane. “It’s ridiculous that this can happen and nothing can be done, especially since other students have had their cars keyed and bike tires slashed.”
Bradley, who filed a report with a CSI unit, also thinks installing cameras could help prevent such crimes in the future.
“Car vandalism has been occurring throughout the entire school year,” said Bradley. “It is virtually impossible for our public safety officers to patrol every area all the time, and it leaves a huge window of opportunity for vandalism. RAs patrol residence halls. Public Safety does generally everywhere else, but the parking lots are neglected.”
Students are hopeful that public safety will find out who is responsible for these bizarre crimes and look into potential security devices like the cameras to prevent further property damage.
