Bobby Bianconi’s 1994 Honda Prelude is missing something: his CD player.

Bianconi, a sophomore, is one of five St. John Fisher students whose cars were broken into in the Park & Ride lot between Oct. 2 and Oct. 11.

Bianconi’s car was accessed through the driver side door window, and his CD player was removed from his dashboard.  He said he was upset to find out his car had been vandalized.

“I was extremely mad and annoyed because I had to park in the Park & Ride, even though I’m a full-time student.  It was a bit unnerving to see my car smashed up,” Bianconi said.

According to Mike McCarthy, director of Safety and Security, the cars were accessed by breaking windows and punching out locks through the keyholes in the doors.  CD players and CDs were reportedly taken. All vehicles were locked and parked in the designated area of the lot.

Park & Ride has seen its share of vandalized vehicles in the past.  According to McCarthy, about seven cars were broken into last year.  He said the incidents occurred around the same time.

“We have one block each year in the same time frame. (The break-ins) occur all at once instead of over a period of time,” he said.

Senior Elizabeth Vanderhoff, who also parks in the Park & Ride lot, saw the broken glass and broken window of one of the cars after returning to Fisher from student teaching at around 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 11.

“I saw all this shattered glass on the ground next to a car, and it looked like the passenger side window was gone.  I saw broken glass in other parking spaces, too.”

Cars have been hit in other lots, including C and A/B, in past years, but not recently.  According to McCarthy, the Park & Ride lot is owned by New York State.  The Regional Transit Service is not liable for damage done to cars parked in that lot.

In response to the break-ins, security has increased the frequency of patrols around the Park & Ride lot.

Bianconi, as well as McCarthy, warn students to keep their cars locked and remove the faceplate of their CD players.  McCarthy also suggests removing any valuable possessions from vehicles.

The break-ins are under investigation by security and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.  Any suspicious activities can be reported to security at 385-8111, or by calling 911.

COPY EDITOR
MARIE HEBERGER
Email address:
mdh5415@sjfc.edu