Burglaries in Columbia increase during spring break

The number of burglaries in Columbia increased during the week many went on Spring Break when compared to lastyear’snumbers.

Thepolicedepartment released those numbers Monday.

Twenty-five homes and businesses were broken into during the12-dayspan.

On College Avenue, four houses in a row were burglarized.

Twohomeownersson the 100blockof College Avenue “springbreak-proofed”their homes before leaving.

They locked the doors, windows, left lights on and cars in the driveway, but burglars weren’t fooled.

Kelsey Lukasek lives in one of the houses burglarized on CollegeAvenue.

“We always make sure all windows arelocked,both doors, well all doorson allfloors were locked. We have things on our windows like wood things sopeople can’tbreak in from the outside. We also have something that is on the door, like ashut-upthing,” Lukasek says.

Police tell Lukasek and her roommates someone broke in using a hammer left outside.

Less than aweek,later the neighbors home was robbed.

Mark Lee and his roommates had laptops, anXboxand video games stolen. Personal safes were smashed in the basement.

“We will try to get something figured out. It is kind of scary having random people going through your private possessions,” Lee says.

The victims plan on talking with their landlords regarding thebreak-insand how to avoid a similar situation in the future.