Vehicle theft, prowls in Court 17 parking garage

Last month, at least two Hondas belonging to UW Tacoma students were stolen during the day near campus. Recently, campus security reported that another car theft occurred and several vehicles had been broken into, this time at night and in the Court 17 Apartments parking garage.

The parking lot has controlled access, and a student’s 2011 Jeep Wrangler was stolen on Sunday night, November 24. Also on Sunday evening, several cars in the locked garage had windows smashed and items within stolen, as reported to Campus Safety & Security the next day.

In an email, Susan Beth Wagshul-Golden, the director of Campus Safety & Security responded to inquiries about the crimes, and said, “There is an increase of criminal activity with vehicle prowls and vehicle thefts in the City of Tacoma. Tacoma Police are actively investigating these crimes.”

During November, at least 30 thefts, robberies, and burglaries were reported to the Tacoma Police Department in the immediate UW Tacoma area. Eight thefts were reported as vehicle prowls, and ten were car thefts.

Vehicle prowlers are defined as anyone suspiciously lingering around a vehicle with “intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein.”

The property manager of the Court 17 Apartments, where the most recent vehicle crimes and theft occurred was unable to be reached for comment about the matter. However, Wagshul-Golden has said that students should be especially aware of their surroundings.

Anyone with information on the recent vehicle theft and prowls are asked to call the Tacoma Police Department’s non-emergency number 253-798-4721 in regards to case numbers 133-290-513 and CSS# 1304902.