Many apartment complexes burglarized
Commons apt. broken into for second time
By Rachana Dixit, news editor
Posted on January 18, 2007

HARRISONBURG — Like most students, senior Sean Castleberry expected to go home after his final exams to start his three-week-long Winter Break. What he didn’t expect was to drive back to Harrisonburg on New Year’s Eve because his apartment in the Commons had been broken into for the second time in three years.

The burglars entered the apartment by throwing a rock through one of the back windows. This incident was one of approximately 30 similar ones that happened over JMU’s Winter Break. According to Lt. Kurt Boshart of the Harrisonburg Police Department, there were a total of 38 breaking-and-entering and trespassing incidents during the three weeks.

“It’s pretty widely known that during Christmas break, it’s an opportunity for criminals to break into these apartments,” Boshart said. “They’re coming from all over.” Boshart noted that many of these criminals come from other parts of the state, such as Staunton, Waynesboro and Charlottesville.

Castleberry said all doors and windows of his apartment were locked. He does not know what day his apartment was broken into, but the police discovered the crime on Dec. 29.

“No one would have seen it,” he said. “Anyone could have done it.”

Most items stolen from his first-floor apartment included electronics, such as TVs, video game consoles, computer accessories and stereo equipment.

It did not stop there.

“The worst part was that they trashed the whole place,” Castleberry said. “They ransacked the place. My bed frame is broken in half.” In addition, on the inside of his closet, the criminals left a message that said, “Raiders raid your house.”

Castleberry’s apartment was first broken into more than two years ago during Thanksgiving Break. The perpetrators allegedly were able to pull through the locks on the apartment and stole various electronic items, but Castleberry said that was not nearly as bad as what happened this year.

“[Last time], they were in and out. They just took a few things from the rooms,” he said. “It was a lot worse this time.”

Despite the fact that break-ins are still prevalent in Harrisonburg during long breaks, Boshart said it was much worse about seven years ago when there were anywhere from 100 to 200 break-ins in the same time frame.

“We really started taking a proactive approach then,” Boshart said, adding that more patrols were added during university breaks and more educational pieces were distributed around the community.

Despite the fact that Harrisonburg is a fairly safe place with only about 300 breaking-and-entering incidents reported each year Boshart said crimes that occur in larger cities happen here as well.

“Unfortunately, for those who are victimized,” he said, “It doesn’t make them feel any better that it’s a less-occurring offense.”

On Dec. 28, 2006, an arrest was made for breaking and entering on the 1100 block of Devon Lane.  In a press release from Ashby Crossing apartments, staff members encourage residents to be alert and mindful of intruders.

The release said, “Each individual resident must remain mindful of how important it is to always be vigilant and focused in their daily lives.”
 
Boshart said no other arrests have been made since breaking and enterings are difficult to track, but the HPD is still looking for more leads.

To increase the chances of getting stolen merchandise returned, Boshart said residents should make a list of valuables and serial numbers.

Otherwise, he said, “There’s nothing we can do.”

Castleberry, who lives with seniors Roger Brooks Liam Cuff and John Profita, said he does not expect to  receive more information about the burglary.

“I don’t really know what [the police] are going to do,” he said. “I don’t expect too much.”

Castleberry said he thinks more security should be implemented during breaks, especially Winter Break.

“Sometimes I think there should be extra measures taken when we’re not around,” Castleberry said. “This happens so many times.”

Boshart added that security can’t completely prevent these crimes from happening.

“We don’t want to see it, and as far as security goes, there is only so much security can do,” he said. “Students need to understand that they’re here and living in a residential community just like any other subdivision in Harrisonburg. Everyone has a personal element of safety that they are responsible for.”

College Park Communities, which owns Stone Gate, South View and The Commons apartments in Harrisonburg, could not be reached for comment by time of publication.