UPD Explains Campus Burglaries
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Wednesday, Volume 156 March 10, 2021 No. 18 SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934 WWW.SJSUNEWS.COM/SPARTAN_DAILY UPD explains campus burglaries By Christian Trujano those categories last year SENIOR STAFF WRITER compared to 2019. However, she said UPD Ever since schools and expected a higher crime universities, including San drop because of the reduced Jose State, began looking campus population and like ghost towns after the said it was largely because coronavirus pandemic people who aren’t affiliated started, campuses became with SJSU were committing open season for burglaries. these crimes. “These are crimes of Faas also stated in his opportunity,” University email SJSU facilities will Police Department continue to be locked and Capt. Frank Belcastro said in require everyone to use a Zoom call. “Our buildings their Tower ID card to open are basically empty . so we building doors, a change that have more people prowling began last spring. around and they know they He said other can get in with nobody improvements include: really around.” additional cameras, According to a Nov. 17, community policing, lighting, 2020 San Jose Police JESUS TELLITUD | SPARTAN DAILY ARCHIVES bollards to prevent cars on Department presentation San Jose Police cars block the area of a crime scene near San Jose State on East Fernando Street on Nov. 22, 2020. campus, ADA access, outdoor to City Council, school broadcast systems and burglaries increased system, the [District Attorney] deter them?” Di Napoli said. classroom upgrades. 135% in 2020 compared to is a revolving door,” he said. “We’re doing everything on Faas also spoke about 2019. At the beginning of “I think there was one our end and now it’s going the S-2 door locking system, the pandemic, there were individual who I think to be up to the courts to do an electronic locking 45 school burglaries citywide. we arrested him about a We’re doing everything on something on their end and system that allows SJSU to “Over the past year, with dozen times.” our end and now it’s going so far, that’s been an issue.” monitor doors. a limited population on UPD Chief of Police Di Napoli said UPD He said these locks are campus, we have experienced Gina Di Napoli said the to be up to the courts to has established a burglary compatible with the new a rise in burglaries in some main issue UPD faces isn’t do something on their end suppression team that will cameras and campus officials of our unattended buildings,” getting the offenders arrested, and so far, that’s been work weekends to combat have already seen attempted said Charlie Faas, SJSU vice but rather having to justify Gina Di Napoli the problem. door break-ins. Both the president for administration charging them. She said an issue. UPD chief of police She and Belcastro said Facilities Development and and finance in an email. when offenders are charged they’ve had more officers Operations and UPD have “It’s typical in any location “they go into the courts and monitor campus buildings, provided solutions to prevent that is not heavily populated the courts basically just let will be prosecuted as adults. UPD officers arrest are and detectives have reached future issues. with people or activities, that them go.” Proposition 47 carrying some kind of drug or out to staff in buildings “With the future crimes of opportunity go up.” Belcastro spoke about recategorized some drug paraphernalia. previously compromised to repopulation of our campus, Belcastro said there’s been Proposition 57, Proposition nonviolent offenses as “The criminal justice do security walk-throughs we fully expect to return to 40 reported burglaries in 47 and the criminal justice misdemeanors, rather system needs to take that with them. significantly lower burglary SJSU buildings from system actively keeping than felonies. into account,” Belcastro The UPD and Faas rates,” Faas stated in his March 1, 2020 to March 1, people out of jail, especially Di Napoli and Belcastro said, adding that judges said almost every other email. “Each of us needs to be 2021, according to UPD data. with jails at lower capacities emphasized the connection need to reconsider releasing crime statistic is down or vigilant, watch for any issues, He said three individuals because of COVID-19 between drugs and victimless offenders who’ve committed significantly down at SJSU. report them immediately to were responsible for many of safety protocols. crimes, including campus victimless crimes to finance Di Napoli said she UPD and ensure that doors those break-ins. Proposition 57 was burglaries, and that this their addictions. analyzed crimes including: and access to buildings Those individuals were approved in 2016 and connection needs to be “We can’t fix the courts, vandalism, burglaries, remain closed and secure.” arrested multiple times by allows parole consideration addressed by the criminal unfortunately, but I can tell disturbances, suspicious UPD, Belcastro said, but for nonviolent felons and justice system. you if there is no consequence people, trespassing and continued burglarizing. juvenile court judges to Belcastro said more to anything it’s going to occur other similar crimes, and Follow Christian on “Unfortunately, the court decide whether juveniles than 90% of the suspects again because what is going to found crime dropped 50% in Twitter @ChristianTruja2 Students discuss pandemic traveling By Giorgina Laurel doesn’t like the idea of STAFF WRITER traveling outside the county because it could increase the spread of the virus. Traveling outside Santa Clara County “Within the time of COVID-19, I do feel during the coronavirus pandemic poses like the idea of travel is extremely risky,” public health risks, but can also help Domingo said. “We don’t want to be a alleviate mental health and isolation carrier of the virus, passing it on to many concerns, said some San Jose State students. others, leading many of us choosing to stay County health officials issued a travel at home.” directive in November that required people Domingo said he understands it’s traveling more than 150 miles outside the important to take a mental health break, county to quarantine for 14 days. but also feels there are different ways to The directive was lifted when the county relax and recharge. moved to the red tier on March 3. Chemistry sophomore Janine Bugayong traveled to Hawaii with her boyfriend and his immediate family in November and said she didn’t mind traveling while adhering to There are so many other ways safety guidelines. YUE XIN | SPARTAN DAILY “I would say that traveling was worth to gain the needed rest and it, as long as you follow the precautions general break from it all, assistant professor and director of the Public Health Department news release. required for COVID,” Bugayong said in a Valley Medical Center Foundation in Dougan said traveling can be a good phone call. “I believe that people should while still abiding by health San Jose, said traveling during a escape from the stresses of life as long as be able to enjoy their lives amidst a precautions. pandemic can be risky because of new people respect social distancing guidelines pandemic, while staying safe of course.” COVID-19 variants. and practice COVID-19 safety protocols. Bugayong said people should be able to Lucas Domingo “We’re seeing new variants that are, “We look at whether the risks have a break from being at home. psychology junior not necessarily, more virulent and more outweigh the benefits and at a time when “It was nice to have a change in transmissible,” Dougan said in a Zoom call. we’re having a disease,” Dougan said. environment, as it can be difficult to have “There are so many other ways to “We don’t know a lot about the virus [and] “[Before people travel] I recommend to to shelter in place for so long,” Bugayong gain the needed rest and general break we’re still learning.” assess the risk and look at how you’re said. “I would definitely recommend from it all, while still abiding by health Two cases of the COVID-19 variant going to get there . it’s all about other people to take a break if they can precautions,” Domingo said. “Take a nice discovered in South Africa were risk minimization.” as long as they are being smart, respectful drive, FaceTime friends when you can and identified in Santa Clara and Alameda and safe.” if you do go on a hike or small leisurely counties last month. The carriers of the Like Bugayong, psychology junior break, please make sure to have a mask on variant experienced symptoms after Lucas Domingo said people need time at all times and keep your distance.” returning from international travel, Follow Giorgina on Twitter to rest and take a break but he Marcelle Dougan, a health science according to a Feb. 10 Santa Clara County @ItsGiorgina A.S. SCHOLARSHIPS Total rd Awards Apply by May 3 at sjsu.edu/faso/types-of-aid/scholarships $87,500 sjsunews.com/spartan_daily 2 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Promising cast fails to save fi lm Three storylines prove predictable in attempt to highlight opioid epidemic. By Sarah Dwyer STAFF WRITER “Crisis” promised a high-stakes tale of intertwining stories following characters touched by the escalating opioid epidemic and was inspired by true events. However, the film falls short on what’s promised. “Crisis” follows three drastically different storylines. Armie Hammer plays Jake Kelly, an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent looking to bring down a major drug trafficking operation, while also tending to his sister ILLUSTRATION BY BIANCA RADER Emmie’s addiction.