Statesboro Police warned it would happen, but apparently dozens of people living near Georgia Southern University found out the hard way that leaving valuables in your apartment while leaving for the holidays could make the holidays less than jolly.
Dozens of victims returned to Statesboro after Thanksgiving holidays to find their apartments or homes had been burglarized, according to Statesboro Police reports. A number of apartment complexes near Georgia Southern University were targeted over the weekend, with over a dozen apartments at Cambridge-at-Southern alone burglarized.
Thieves took a wide assortment of items, including jewelry, cash, DVD movies and clothing. The most expensive and most popular items, however, were lap top computers and Xbox 360 gaming systems, according to reports.
Detectives were out Monday continuing the investigations of reported burglaries, while more reports from victims poured in. Neither Statesboro Police Chief Stan York nor Capt. Scott Brunson were immediately available Monday for comment.
One Cambridge-at-Southern victim reported several pairs of Nike and other expensive shoes stolen. TVs were also high on the list. Any cash — even change — found was taken. Most of the gaming systems reported taken were X-Box 360s, but some Play Stations were stolen, too, reports stated. Games that went with the consoles were taken as well. One victim reported the theft of a championship football ring.
At least three apartments at Hawthorne II were burglarized — a Nintendo Wii was reported missing along with TVs and lap tops.
It was the same story at The Exchange Apartments, Southern Villas and Garden District Apartments. Some victims reported losing MP3 players and iPods. A vacuum cleaner was among listed items stolen from Campus Club Apartments, and The Pointe at Southern suffered multiple burglaries as well. Knives were among items taken from Eagles Landings Apartments, and a Park Place Apartments man reported a tool belt stolen along with $30, a DVD player and DVDs.
Statesboro Police Det. Sgt. James Winskey warned citizens last week that the holiday season also brings an increase in crime, especially theft. While Statesboro and Georgia Southern University Police are increasing patrols in the areas, students - and any other citizen — must take some of the precautions themselves to avoid becoming victims.
It's not only the seasonal holidays that bring the increase in crime, Winskey said. "The worse the economy gets, the worse (crime) gets," he said.
Students leaving their apartments during the holidays to go home usually "don't take their flat screen TVs, their laptops" and other valuables, and thieves know this, he said, adding that taking valuables with you when you visit home during the holidays can help reduce the risk of being the victim of a burglary.
Anyone with information about these burglaries or any crime is asked to contact the Statesboro Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (912) 764-1542.
Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at 489-9414.
Dozens of victims returned to Statesboro after Thanksgiving holidays to find their apartments or homes had been burglarized, according to Statesboro Police reports. A number of apartment complexes near Georgia Southern University were targeted over the weekend, with over a dozen apartments at Cambridge-at-Southern alone burglarized.
Thieves took a wide assortment of items, including jewelry, cash, DVD movies and clothing. The most expensive and most popular items, however, were lap top computers and Xbox 360 gaming systems, according to reports.
Detectives were out Monday continuing the investigations of reported burglaries, while more reports from victims poured in. Neither Statesboro Police Chief Stan York nor Capt. Scott Brunson were immediately available Monday for comment.
One Cambridge-at-Southern victim reported several pairs of Nike and other expensive shoes stolen. TVs were also high on the list. Any cash — even change — found was taken. Most of the gaming systems reported taken were X-Box 360s, but some Play Stations were stolen, too, reports stated. Games that went with the consoles were taken as well. One victim reported the theft of a championship football ring.
At least three apartments at Hawthorne II were burglarized — a Nintendo Wii was reported missing along with TVs and lap tops.
It was the same story at The Exchange Apartments, Southern Villas and Garden District Apartments. Some victims reported losing MP3 players and iPods. A vacuum cleaner was among listed items stolen from Campus Club Apartments, and The Pointe at Southern suffered multiple burglaries as well. Knives were among items taken from Eagles Landings Apartments, and a Park Place Apartments man reported a tool belt stolen along with $30, a DVD player and DVDs.
Statesboro Police Det. Sgt. James Winskey warned citizens last week that the holiday season also brings an increase in crime, especially theft. While Statesboro and Georgia Southern University Police are increasing patrols in the areas, students - and any other citizen — must take some of the precautions themselves to avoid becoming victims.
It's not only the seasonal holidays that bring the increase in crime, Winskey said. "The worse the economy gets, the worse (crime) gets," he said.
Students leaving their apartments during the holidays to go home usually "don't take their flat screen TVs, their laptops" and other valuables, and thieves know this, he said, adding that taking valuables with you when you visit home during the holidays can help reduce the risk of being the victim of a burglary.
Anyone with information about these burglaries or any crime is asked to contact the Statesboro Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (912) 764-1542.
Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at 489-9414.