With schools closed across the country in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many district administrators are grappling with crime and other security issues at their shuttered facilities.
Over the last several weeks, police have responded to reports of break-ins, burglaries, and vandalism. Although no reports have made the news in Michigan and Illinois, other instances across the U.S. have been widely reported.
In suburban Montgomery County in Maryland, school break-ins increased two-fold in 2020 when compared to the same time last year, ABC affiliate WJLA – TV7 reported.
In the months between January 1 and April 30, 2019, eight schools were burglarized in the county, which includes the cities of Rockville, Bethesda and Germantown, all suburbs in the D.C. region. This year, burglaries doubled to 16 between January 1 and April 30.
Most of those break-ins took place between March 1 and April 16. Local police believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is a major factor behind the increase in vandalism and burglaries.
Montgomery County police have taken advantage of security company cameras and burglar alarm systems to respond to break-ins. There has been a mix of incidents, their police chief said. “We’ve seen broken windows. We’ve seen vending machines being broken into. We’ve seen vandalism cases. It’s a mix.”
San Jose, California has also experienced a big spike in school burglaries. One middle school has been burglarized three times since distance learning began back on March 16. Thieves broke windows and rummaged through the front office. The principal said virtual reality sets and random computer equipment were taken and he is wondering why thieves are targeting his school.
KTVD FOX2 News reports police are patrolling schools more often and are more visible at school parking lots to curb those break-ins.
Apart from the current COVID-19-related campus closures, schools and universities are increasingly vulnerable to crime and violence. A school is three times more likely to be burglarized than a business. Vandalism costs schools more than $1 billion a year, according to the National Education Association.
Sonitrol Great Lakes has been protecting schools across the Michigan – Illinois region for more than 50 years and has the proven experience required to protect schools in session and well as during this current health crisis. Contact us to learn more