Some East Campus residents still not locking doors after police warning

A series of intrusions and assaults in and near the East Campus neighborhood in Columbia are likely tied to one man, according to police.

In nine break-ins over the last few months, the intruder came in through an unlocked door.

Thursday night, ABC 17 News checked to see if people in the areas where the break-ins happened are heeding the warning.

ABC 17’s Jillian Fertig knocked on 10 doors in the neighborhood and of those 10, seven residents did not have their doors locked.

It was early in the evening, but police are warning residents to keep their doors locked at all times and not just during late night hours.

“It freaked us all out,” one resident said. “I even lock my room door now.”

This was one of three residents who had her doors locked before answering.

Police said all nine break-ins targeted women and that it’s possible a sexual motive is driving the incidents.

Some residents had no idea just how close to home these intrusions were happening to their homes until they were shown the map.

Women in the neighborhood are not the only ones who are concerned about the intruder still on the run. One resident said he worries about his girlfriend.

“She lives down the street, so I kind of worry about that,” he said. “We lock her doors every night when I leave there.”

One house Fertig came to had the door not only unlocked, but cracked open.

“Usually our doors are locked, but apparently not just then,” the resident told ABC 17 News.

Everyone ABC 17 News spoke with in the area said they are afraid the man could be lurking in the neighborhood anywhere watching.

Police said they have stepped up patrols and won’t stop until the person responsible is caught. But until then, they are warning residents to double check to make sure all doors and windows are locked and to call police if they see anything suspicious.