Brenna Taulbee, junior music business major, drove to classes on Tuesday like any other day. When she parked, she realized her tire was flat.
“I just thought it was my own doing, as if I ran over something and didn’t notice it,” said Taulbee. “In the middle of one of my classes on that Tuesday, I got an email from the security office saying that my vehicle had been vandalized and that I needed to go to the security office as soon as I could to file a report.”
The rear driver’s side tire on Taulbee’s car had been punctured three times.
“One of the officers explained the situation and told me that I wasn’t the only one who had their tires slashed the night before,” she said.
Taulbee’s vehicle was parked in the Fair Commons parking lot when it was vandalized.
“When I found out that someone had purposefully targeted my vehicle out of all the others in the parking lot, I was concerned for my safety,” Taulbee said.
According to Rick Garrett, chief of university police, four other students reported finding that the tires on their vehicles had been slashed.
“The investigation is continuing,” said Garrett. “AUPD viewed video footage of the Fair Commons lot and observed five young caucasion males entering the lot.
“They went to several vehicles and attempted to open the doors but they were locked. One subject was observed entering an unlocked pickup truck and looking inside the vehicle. Due to the distance, their faces are unidentifiable.”
There have been reports of similar incidents occuring off-campus in surrounding neighborhoods. AUPD is working with Anderson Police to catch the perpetrators.
In the meantime, Garrett recommends that students “park in a well-lit area, do not leave valuables in plain sight in their vehicles and lock their vehicles.”
Garrett encourages students to call AUPD if they notice anyone suspicious in a university parking lot.