The victim of a recent home break-in at a Wesbrook Place housing complex is calling for more communication from the RCMP, the UNA, and UBC about crime on campus.
The incident occurred early morning on September 28. It is believed two suspects stole wallets, backpacks, and keys after entering the victim’s unit. The keys were then used to access an underground parking garage where the suspects made off with an undisclosed number of items, including e-bikes worth thousands of dollars.
The incident has broken the illusion of a “bubble of safety” that many campus residents were living in prior to the breakin, the resident said.
“We need more access to information about crime rates and more communication from the RCMP, and campus/ elected officials about safety awareness,” they said.
During the incident, an unspecified number of suspects entered the home through an unlocked back door, a spokesperson from the RCMP told The Campus Resident.
The spokesperson said the investigation remains open and could not provide specific details.
The resident said all members of the household were asleep on the upper floors of their unit when the suspects entered the home at approximately 4 a.m.
“They used our (key) fob to drive a SUV into the underground garage and two people loaded their car with e-bikes,” they said.
“They attempted to steal a motorcycle, and then damaged it when they failed and may have attempted to steal a Subaru. They vandalized a Tesla by pouring antifreeze all over it.”
At least three households in the complex had items stolen or damaged, the resident said.
“Everyone has been very supportive of each other, but it is hard to shake the feeling that our error made the entire complex vulnerable to the break in,” they said.
“I have no expectations for the return of anyone’s items, but I would hope that the RCMP might coordinate with the UNA, Village Gate Homes, and UBC to communicate to residents about incidents of crime or help form more of an awareness of what is going on in the neighborhood.”
The RCMP officer who arrived at the scene told the resident that spikes in crime occur in September and October when students and faculty return to campus, which came as a surprise.
“It is probably a good thing that we all have a renewed vigilance but I wish the vigilance had come from a warning issued by the university, UNA, or police, rather than experiencing a home invasion first-hand,” the resident said.
According to statistics provided by the RCMP, total property crime on campus increased 10 per cent from 2023 to 2024, with 946 incidences last year.
In a presentation to UNA directors in March this year, the RCMP said the total number of calls for service – which includes instances of officers responding to crime as well as non-crime issues – went from 3787 in 2023 to 5955 in 2024, an increase of over 57 per cent.
EMMANUEL SAMOGLOU IS THE MANAGING EDITOR OF THE CAMPUS RESIDENT.