Car stolen in broad daylight from the dorms
By: Mallory Peebles
Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: Campus Life
A vehicle belonging to Village resident Josh Petitt was stolen at around 10 a.m. in the new dorm parking lot March 6.
It was the second vehicle theft at California State University, Stanislaus since January.
In 2007 there were four vehicle thefts at CSU Stanislaus.
California Highway Patrol recovered Petitt's car in an orchard in Modesto the same day it was believed to have been stolen. The vehicle had been striped of the hood, bumpers, stereo, rims and tires. The seats inside were slashed and windows broken.
For Petitt this was not only a shocking situation but also very frustrating and costly.
"I am totally independent so I'm not getting any help through this," said Petitt who has had to pay more than $300 in towing and storage fees.
Petitt is a student-athlete who carries a 16 unit school load along with working 25 hours a week at an off-campus job.
On the afternoon of March 6, Petitt was scheduled to work at 5 p.m. He noticed his car was stolen shortly before 5 p.m. when he walked into the parking lot ready to leave for work.
He called the police and they responded quickly to the scene. Using police computer databases, within an hour campus police contacted Petitt informing him the car had been found.
"I just can't believe this could happen only 100 yards away from the campus police station," said Petitt, who said he is unsatisfied with the campus police and campus officials.
"No school officials have said anything to me about the whole situation, not even housing. I have received no kind of apology or contact at all from anyone here on campus," Petitt said.
Sgt. Matt Dillon said this is an unfortunate event but campus police are working collaboratively with Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force, StanCATT, to find the perpetrators. One female witness did report the campus police that she saw a group of suspicious men in the parking lot that day.
"StanCATT is very good at what they do and even a small detail like this can help. They know of many car thefts and their MO's so this can help narrow it down," Dillon said.
It was the second vehicle theft at California State University, Stanislaus since January.
In 2007 there were four vehicle thefts at CSU Stanislaus.
California Highway Patrol recovered Petitt's car in an orchard in Modesto the same day it was believed to have been stolen. The vehicle had been striped of the hood, bumpers, stereo, rims and tires. The seats inside were slashed and windows broken.
For Petitt this was not only a shocking situation but also very frustrating and costly.
"I am totally independent so I'm not getting any help through this," said Petitt who has had to pay more than $300 in towing and storage fees.
Petitt is a student-athlete who carries a 16 unit school load along with working 25 hours a week at an off-campus job.
On the afternoon of March 6, Petitt was scheduled to work at 5 p.m. He noticed his car was stolen shortly before 5 p.m. when he walked into the parking lot ready to leave for work.
He called the police and they responded quickly to the scene. Using police computer databases, within an hour campus police contacted Petitt informing him the car had been found.
"I just can't believe this could happen only 100 yards away from the campus police station," said Petitt, who said he is unsatisfied with the campus police and campus officials.
"No school officials have said anything to me about the whole situation, not even housing. I have received no kind of apology or contact at all from anyone here on campus," Petitt said.
Sgt. Matt Dillon said this is an unfortunate event but campus police are working collaboratively with Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force, StanCATT, to find the perpetrators. One female witness did report the campus police that she saw a group of suspicious men in the parking lot that day.
"StanCATT is very good at what they do and even a small detail like this can help. They know of many car thefts and their MO's so this can help narrow it down," Dillon said.
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