Multiple break-ins and a recently stolen vehicle have some students on campus wondering how secure the Saint Louis University parking lots really are.

Three vehicles have been stolen this year, one of which was taken on Sept. 26 from the Holy Cross Lot at 3821 West Pine. There was another attempt that same evening from the same lot.

Director of the Department of Public Safety Jack Titone was pleased that the number of stolen vehicles for the year should be less than the seven reported in 1999.

Much of the concern over security in the lots is directed toward the surface lots that, with exception to the Reinert Lot, are without security cameras. Both the Laclede and Olive-Compton garages have cameras.

“We have four mobile units that ride around the University and patrol the lots every 30 to 40 minutes on all three shifts,” said Titone. “During the day we also have bicycle patrol and a traffic-enforcement officer checking for vehicles parked illegally.”

Some students have changed their parking locations so they can be in the garages.

“I’m not scared for myself, but I worry about my car being vandalized,” said Laura Duff, a freshman. “Even though it’s a longer walk, I like to park in Olive because they have security cameras.”

Sophomore Bridget Gregory expressed a similar reassurance with having cameras. She said, “I sometimes worry about my car being broken into. I would feel better if they had cameras.”

Assistant Vice President of Facilities Charles Smith doesn’t necessarily agree that cameras are the answer.

“The lots are patrolled, well-lit and fenced in,” he said. “One could argue that cameras would help, and others say they wouldn’t.”

Smith said there would be complications with many of the lots trying to find a location to receive the signals from the video cameras.

“The cost and the question of the actual necessity come into play when we consider putting cameras in the lots that don’t have them already,” Smith said.

Even without cameras, Titone pointed out several things that can protect a vehicle. “There are certain kinds of engines that are in some General Motor cars made between 1982 and 1992 that are especially vulnerable,” Titone said.

Titone said that Saginaw engines can be easily tampered with, and people with that kind of engine can buy The Collar, a engine console protection device or The Club to protect their cars from theft.