Seventeen car burglaries occur on, nearby campus
Seven vehicles in the North College Lot and 10 vehicles in the First Christian Church & School parking lot were burglarized at approximately 1:20 a.m. Monday morning, according to an email from the Rice University Police Department.
“There is no description of the suspects, but surveillance video from the church parking lot captured distant images of two suspects on foot breaking vehicle windows with an unknown object,” the email said.
The first report of the burglaries came to RUPD at 2:13 a.m. from one of the victims of the burglaries, according to RUPD Captain Clemente Rodriguez. According to Rodriguez, the perpetrators took less than $75 worth of various small items from the vehicles. RUPD has not apprehended anyone, nor do they have any suspects as of Tuesday evening.
Jackie Richards, a Martel College junior, said she was alerted by her suitemate around 8 a.m. Monday that their cars parked at First Christian Church had been burglarized.
“The passenger side window of my car was smashed in,” Richards said. “They rooted through my glovebox and center console and spread everything out on my front seat. They even opened my prescription sunglasses and an old high school AP test booklet that I forgot was in my glovebox.”
Richards said RUPD officers had already been at the scene and had left a business card in her car window, which she used to contact their office.
“The officer was nice and took my info, as well as a couple papers from my suitemate’s car and my car to run for prints,” Richards said.
According to Richards, the RUPD officer told her that the perpetrators were likely looking for drugs or cash inside the cars.
RUPD sent out a campuswide crime alert email on Monday afternoon relaying the news of the car burglaries and advising members of the Rice community to take precautions with parking and stowing belongings inside cars.
Richards said she arranged to have her car window fixed that same day due to the stormy weather.
“I will just be picking up extra shifts at work until I can make back $110,” Richards said. “I guess sometimes you just gotta eat it.”
More from The Rice Thresher
Local Foods launches in newly renovated Brochstein space
Local Foods Market opened at Brochstein Pavilion Nov. 19, replacing comfort food concept Little Kitchen HTX. The opening, previously scheduled for the end of September, also features interior renovations to Brochstein. Local Foods is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
Scan, swipe — sorry
Students may need to swipe their Rice IDs through scanners before entering future public parties, said dean of undergraduates Bridget Gorman. This possible policy change is not finalized, but in discussion among student activities and crisis management teams.
Energy summit talks the policy behind power
The 16th annual Rice Energy Finance Summit was held at Jones Business School Nov. 15. Speakers from the energy industry discussed topics including renewable energy, the Texas power grid and the future of energy policy under a second Trump administration.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.