On Wednesday, Oct. 29, St. Olaf staff and students received an Ole Alert with a notice that Public Safety had seen an increase in vehicle break-ins within the previous 24 hours, leaving the campus community wary about the safety of their cars. The email stated that the Northfield Police Department (NPD) was assisting with investigations and advised students to check on their cars. Public Safety learned of the break-ins at the end of October, and the alert was sent out shortly after. Since the initial alert, break-ins on campus have been infrequent. 

“With any kind of crime like this, the frequency is sporadic,” Public Safety Captain Tyler Vogel said. “They tend not to hit the same area multiple times in a small time frame.”

While the focus of the alert was vehicles on campus, the NPD has also seen an increase of vehicle break-ins in town. Vogel advised students to use caution when parking in town. Public Safety has increased their patrol frequency on campus to combat the break-ins. They make multiple rounds through the parking lots at night and watch for suspicious activity. 

Regan Zak ’27 was one victim of the vehicle break-ins. She learned about the break-ins through the alert, which prompted her to check on her car. 

“I got down there, and it was all a mess,” Zak said in an interview with The Olaf Messenger. “They had taken things out of my coat, and there was garbage left in my car that wasn’t from me. Luckily, nothing important was stolen … they took two Chick-fil-A gift cards, but there was no money on it. They left … empty alcohol shooters in my car.”

While no significant damage was done and nothing valuable was stolen, the incident was jarring for Zak. 

“I didn’t expect my car to get broken into because [St. Olaf] preach[es] about honesty … obviously, now I’m less trusting, but I don’t know who did it, so maybe it wasn’t a St. Olaf student,” Zak said.

Both Zak and Vogel advised students to lock and check on their cars. 

“We have some reports where [victims of break-ins] haven’t been to their vehicle in a week or more. If you do not plan on driving anywhere for a while, make it a habit to go and check on your vehicle,” said Vogel. 

Students are advised to call Public Safety if they believe their car has been broken into. Public Safety requests that students report any suspicious vehicles or activity immediately and provide a description, location, and the nature of the suspicious behavior.