Two of three cars stolen on campus were found last week after what appeared to be a rash of random car thefts in three different campus parking lots, said Orange Police Department Sgt. Mark Hensler. The third is still missing.

Chapman Public Safety was notified of three Hondas being stolen from three different parking lots on campus Sept. 17 and 18.

“I cannot recall three being reported so close together, but it does happen from time to time,” said Chief of Public Safety Randy Burba.

Junior Alicia Fraticelli’s 2000 Honda Civic was found in a parking garage at Cal State Fullerton Sept. 29, she said.

Brea Police found the second Honda at 215 S. Orange Ave., near the Gateway Shopping Center, and the driver has been notified, Hensler said.

The first car was stolen from the Jim Miller parking structure between Sept. 13 and 17 and was reported to Public Safety on Sept. 18. The second was stolen from the Barrera parking structure between 8:30 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. on Sept. 18 and was reported at about noon that day. The third was stolen from the Lastinger parking structure between 11:46 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 17 and was reported to Public Safety at 7 p.m. that night, Burba said.

The Orange Police Department has not determined whether the three vehicle were stolen by the same person or group of people, or that they were related in anyway, Hensler said.

In response to the car thefts, Public Safety has increased its 24-hour patrol to five officers, instead of two, Burba said. Burba wants to add more coverage of parking areas in officers’ patrols in the future, he said.

“The most effective deterrent is everyone looking out for each other and taking the time to protect themselves and their property,” Burba said.

No broken glass was found at the spots where the three cars were stolen, he said. It is possible that the locks were opened manually with some device such as a modified punch or passkey, he said.

If broken glass isn’t found at the scene it usually means that a device, called a Slim Jim, is used to open the door, Hensler said.

After her car was stolen Thursday, Fraticelli was hoping that the police would find her car in good condition, she said. Fraticelli’s iPod adapter, car registration and transponder for Chapman’s parking garage were stolen, she said.

“Now I make a real conscious effort to lock my car and hear it beep,” Fraticelli said. “Also, I bought a steering wheel lock.”

When the police called to inform Fraticelli that her car had been found they told her that it was likely someone had stolen her car for a joyride, she said.

“If it wasn’t stripped and it was recovered within 24 hours it’s generally used for transportation or to steal the items at another location,” Hensler said.

Freshman Shaina Healy, who drives a Honda, was shocked when she received the alert from Public Safety on Sept. 21, she said.

“I'm more cautious about where I park now,” she said. “I try to park near the front of the parking lot.”

Senior Alex Rouch has read about car thefts in the past and has stopped keeping his wallet in the console of his car, he said.

“I've been here for three years and never heard of this happening before," he said.


Contact this reporter: daniel.langhorne@thepantheronline.com