Two weeks ago, four vehicles were broken into while parked overnight in the Hills Lot. The incident has prompted both campus police and students to question the security of cars on campus.

The break-ins occurred on Sept. 24 at 4:15 a.m. A patrolling officer heard a car alarm sounding in the lot and, after subsequent investigation, found that four cars had been broken into, three of which had CD players stolen. Campus police contacted the owners of the vehicles, and since then have launched an investigation.

"We believe two young gentlemen are responsible for the Sept. 24 car breaks," said Chief of Campus Police John Carter. "Four charges of breaking and entering and malicious damage to property have been filed against the two suspects in the Northampton District Court. The two suspects are not Amherst students and are currently being detained in the Amherst House of Correction."

Although Carter believes that these car breaks are isolated attacks, he thinks better security can be offered for vehicles in the College lots. Currently there are no official security measures in place to combat car theft or vandalism, besides patrolling.

Campus police is in the process of signing a contract with a security company to place digital recording cameras in the Hills, O'Connel and Alumni parking lots. There is currently only one camera in any of the campus parking lots, in the Hills lot, but even that one is outdated and lacks a recording device, according to Carter.

"[The cameras] might not prevent car breaks or vandalism, but will offer helpful evidence for finding out what parties may be responsible."

Some students are concerned about the safety of their cars at the College. "When [my car] is on campus it is safe, but some of the off-campus lots that we have to leave our cars in at night make me nervous," said Elise Kessler '04. "I think they should put more lights in those lots in order to make them more secure at night."

Other students do not see car security as a major worry. "For the most part, I don't worry about the safety of my car, I think the lots are pretty secure," said Brad Backus '05.

"I feel my car is extremely safe on campus," said Hillary Hauffman '04. "That is because I really don't think anyone would ever be interested in breaking into my car."