A student’s clothes were stolen from the Cokesbury Court Clubhouse when the security gates were open.
The theft occurred at 10:30 p.m. Jan. 11 from the laundry room of the Cokesbury Court Clubhouse. Bill Citty, interim director of campus police, said the anonymous student saw a woman taking clothes out of a dryer. The student later reported the incident to campus police when they realized it was their clothes that had been stolen.
Citty said the campus police were notified at 3:30 a.m. and saw a woman and a man on the security camera footage make three trips back and forth from the laundry room to their car parked in front of the clubhouse.
“The campus will be notified if the thefts are identified,” Citty said. “We want to put the picture of the thieves on the map so students can be aware if they see them again and can report it to us.”
Citty also said the perpetrators of the thefts were not students, and they came in through the open gates.
“Students should be aware of their surroundings at all times,” Citty said. “If you have a feeling something’s not right or something makes you uncomfortable, call OCUPD. We want every little thing reported. We want to make sure everyone feels safe, so we’re happy to come out when called.”
Casey Kreger, director of housing and residence life, said the security gates were open because of a cracked hinge on the exit gate, causing it to lean out of place.
“Since it’s a steel gate, it has to be professionally welded. OCU’s repair company is planning to repair the gate as soon as possible,” Kreger said.
Kreger said he was waiting on the Cokesbury Court Apartment’s third vendor company, PSI Security Guard and Security Patrol Service, to repair the gate. When PSI did not act quickly enough, he contacted OCU’s company, Superior Security and Investigations Incorporation.
“The gates themselves are fully functional,” Kreger said. “We’ve tested them, and the problem is just the hinge on the exit gate, so we are keeping them open so it doesn’t fall on someone’s car. The entrance gate is perfectly fine, but it’s not worth closing one gate because anyone could drive in through the exit gate anyways.”
Kreger said the issues with the gates started in November, when they experienced various software, ground wiring and motor gate issues.
“We have long-term plans to replace the vehicle and pedestrian gates, as well as to repair the fence, but the process would take about two months,” Kreger said.
Sarah Boone, music senior, has lived in Cokesbury for two years and said she feels the security is sub-par even when the gates are closed.
“You can never tell when you’re letting someone dangerous in behind you because if they’re not a student, they might be someone’s friend from another school or somebody’s Uber,” Boone said.
Boone also said she experienced two incidents when strangers were knocking on students’ doors in Cokesbury, which she reported to OCUPD.
“They were inviting students to a Bible study and tried to get my personal information and to get me to leave with them. From what I’ve heard about groups like that at other universities, I thought it was a sex-trafficking group, but at the very least, they were trespassing,” Boone said. “I would feel better if there was a 24/7 on-duty officer at Cokesbury. I’ve seen other schools do that.”
Kreger said students should download the free app, “Rave Guardian,” which allows quick access to campus police.
“While Emergency Blue phones are still fully functional, they’ve become a thing of the past,” Kreger said. “In an emergency, a student would have to run to the nearest phone, and if they’re being followed, they wouldn’t want to stop to make a phone call.”
Kreger also said users can set safety timers on the Rave Guardian application.
“If you’re going to walk somewhere at night, you can set a timer for how long you think it should take and it will track you. If you don’t make it to your destination in time or stray from the path, the application will automatically alert OCUPD.”
Kreger sent an email to Cokesbury residents informing students that although OCUPD increases their security measures when the gates are open, students are always advised to observe the following safety suggestions from OCUPD.
“1. Always be aware of your surroundings while walking or driving from your room, to class, or around campus. If you feel unsafe walking on campus, please contact OCU Police who can give you a ride to your destination on campus.
2. Lock your vehicle and do not leave any items of value in it.
3. Lock your front exterior apartment doors when not at home.
4. Do not give out the access code to the gates.
5. Be aware that “tailgating” does not occur behind you with individuals that do not belong in the community with vehicle or pedestrian gates.”
Kreger also stated in the email to contact OCUPD or the Resident Assistant on Call if students see anything suspicious. Students should also report if anything is broken or out of place with the security measures in Cokesbury.
“8. Download the Rave Guardian App on your phone that connects directly to OCUPD to have a quick connection to the dispatcher, safety timers, and the option to text OCU Police,” the email read.
“11. If you are traveling at night, always make sure you are with a group or with someone else, especially off campus.”
If students have any questions or need to get in contact with OCUPD, they can call 405-208-5911 or contact their dorm’s RA on call.
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