Unidentified perpetrators stole external lights off of multiple Tufts vehicles during three consecutive weekends starting last month, according to Captain Mark Keith of the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD).
In addition, license plates were stolen off of several other cars.
A Lexus sport utility vehicle (SUV) parked in the Cohen lot had its headlights stolen during the night of Friday, Feb. 18. The fog lights were stolen off an Audi parked in the Cousens lot sometime between Feb. 24 and 26.
During the following week, the directional light lenses were taken off a Volkswagen Jetta, also parked in Cousens Lot.
"I parked in the Cousens lot and I left my car there over a Thursday night. When I went back to get it I noticed that the fog lights had been ripped out of the car," sophomore Evan Lichtenstein, owner of the Audi, said.
Lichtenstein filed a report at the TUPD station, where officers informed him of the other robberies. Lichtenstein said that he was initially upset that police had issued no warning to the Tufts community.
"I was upset that if they knew about it they weren't doing anything about it," he said.
Keith confirmed that although the TUPD did not send out warnings, they did increase patrols.
"We have stepped up our patrols in the lots that are more removed from the main campus," he said.
Lichtenstein, an employee of Brown and Brew, said that he noticed the added patrols while at work, and called it a "step in the right direction."
Lichtenstein mentioned the incident in an informal discussion with Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senators in an effort to raise awareness about the problem.
As somebody who has friends with cars on campus, Lichtenstein said he felt it was important that people were aware of the problem, but added that he felt that the police response had been appropriate.
"The police response does seem to be positive," he said. He also said that he was not sure if he wanted to pursue more aggressive action to raise awareness and protect vehicles on campus.
"I'd like to wait a little bit and see how the police react, and see if there is a continued response," Lichtenstein said. "I would like to set up something where people can anonymously say what happened to their cars to poll people and see how often this really happens."
In addition to the theft of external lights, Keith said several license plates from different states were also recently taken.
"Several license plates were taken over one particular weekend. That is probably unrelated," he said, adding that incidents of license plate theft are common and may be part of some form of scavenger hunt or other organized activity.
Junior Jeremy Setton also has a car on campus, and feels safe with the vehicle here.
"I'm not too worried about it," Setton said. "I've never thought about somebody stealing the car or stuff off of it. That stuff happens everywhere. I'm not saying it couldn't happen at Tufts but I don't worry about it."
Lichtenstein said that the police recently called him to say that they were still investigating the incident, and wanted to obtain more information.
"At this time there is no suspect info. But the case is still open. We encourage anyone who sees suspicious activity in the [parking] lots at any time to report that to us," Keith said.
