Two incidents of grand theft and the arrest of a student for possession of a firearm kicked off the new semester, while petty theft and vehicle violations were the most common crimes committed throughout the month of January.

On Jan. 24, police intervened to stop a conflict between two students at the Adult Community Training Center. “There was a problem with a student yelling and confronting another student,” said Police Specialist Nidal Kobaissi. “When he was detained and searched, there was a gun on this person.” The individual was arrested and taken into custody. Although Kobaissi remembers only two incidents involving firearms on campus, he stresses the importance of keeping guns away from the college. “You bring a gun into a mall or somewhere like that, it’s a misdemeanor,” said Kobaissi. “You bring a gun into any school, it’s a felony.”

Prior to the start of the semester, photography equipment was stolen from El Vaquero’s newspaper office. The stolen items, which included two cameras and two lenses, were worth approximately $1,400. The police were called to the scene and labeled the incident grand theft after assessing that the amount stolen exceeded $400. There were no arrests made, and there are no suspects at this time. “It’s made us more aware,” said Iain Morton, Editor-in-Chief of El Vaquero, the college newspaper. “It’s unfortunate that there are people like this out there.”

A second grand theft was called in on Jan. 23. Reportedly, a backpack and its contents were stolen from the San Rafael building. When police arrived, the perpetrator had fled the scene and no arrests were made. The backpack’s contents included books and compact discs totaling $487.15.

A motor vehicle accident occurred on Jan. 15 in lot B/C. The damage was minimal and there were no serious injuries reported. A hit-and-run accident was reported from the Adult Community Training Center on Jan. 16. A driver apparently hit a parked car and then left the scene without leaving a note. By law, individuals must at least leave a note if they bump into a parked car. The perpetrator was not apprehended.

Petty theft continued its pattern of being a common occurrence since the beginning of the semester. Items most often stolen included backpacks, portable CD players, and calculators. It is suggested that students take care to watch their belongings closely because high-traffic areas on campus are hard to keep under constant supervision. This crime trend on campus is evident in many places, including the library, which now posts signs warning students not to leave their personal items when searching for books. “Don’t leave your belongings unattended,” said Kobaissi. “Keep an eye on your stuff.”