Overwhelming reports of car thefts and car break-ins on the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, in recent times, have sparked a student group start an awareness campaign to help combat the unlawful practice.

The awareness campaign called 'Be Alarmed ... Secure It Or Lose It', was launched yesterday on the campus.

Sherlene Haye, a spokesperson for the group, told THE WEEKEND STAR of the plans and reasons behind the campaign. She outlined, "This campaign was created because of a course of study, Introduction to Social Marketing, however, due to the spiralling reports of car thefts or car break-ins, we found the need to broaden the scope and educate as many students and the general public through our efforts". Haye said her friend's car got stolen about three weeks ago after being parked in a designated parking lot on the campus.

Several students said they were aware of either cars being stolen or broken into. "Dem a go hard pan di car stealing and break-ins from time to time and something must be done," one said.

laptop stolen

Another remarked, "I don't know of anyone personally whose car was stolen but I have a friend whose car was broken into last week and her laptop stolen".

Assistant Commissioner of Police Keith Gardener, director of security for the campus, revealed that several strategic measures have been installed to reduce the criminal practice. ''The campus is not a public place. The campus is for students, workers and persons conducting official business," he said. "There is a Mona Campus Security Act which outlines the way in which security operations on the campus are governed. Recently we have put special security measures in place to reduce or prevent car thefts and car break-ins."

ACP Gardener told THE WEEKEND STAR that he suspects that a member of the campus community is working in conjunction with the perpetrators. "Whoever is stealing cars on the campus is somebody who knows the campus," Gardener said, pointing out two main areas where reports of car stealing were prominent and showing visible prevention methods installed under his direction.