The Rutgers University Police Department is urging drivers to take safety precautions following multiple car burglaries that took place in parking lots on the Newark campus early Wednesday morning.
According to a statement posted by police on Facebook, all of the reported burglaries took place between 1:01 and 1:42 a.m. on the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences campus in Newark. Three of the incidents happened in Parking Lot 1 on South Orange Avenue, while an additional burglary was reported at Parking Lot 4, located on 12th Avenue, police said.
In all four incidents, police say the suspects entered the vehicles by breaking the windows before removing items of value from inside the cars. Rutgers authorities say a description of the suspect(s) involved is "limited" at this time.
As the investigation continues, police are reminding people who park on campus to "take reasonable safety precautions." They recommend parking in well-lit, well-trafficked areas whenever possible, staying alert and reporting suspicious activity. Police also suggest that drivers avoid leaving valuable items unsecured or unattended in their vehicles.
The Rutgers University Police Department provides escorts to students, faculty and staff upon request. Escorts will accompany members of the university to their vehicles, campus residence halls or local mass transit hubs, according to police. Anyone wishing to request an escort can contact the police communications center at 973-972-4491.
Rutgers police are also asking that anyone with information, or who may have been in the area at the time of the burglaries to contact the Rutgers Police Detective Bureau at 973-972-6394.