Opportunity Burglaries at SMC

As students and staff members return to campus for the Fall semester, the Police Chief of Santa Monica College advises protection against Opportunity Burglaries

With some in-person classes resuming at Santa Monica College (SMC) during the Fall Semester of 2021, Chief of SMC Campus Police Johnnie Adams dives into the systems in place which help protect not only students and faculty members but also the campus and the surrounding community.

Chief of police at Santa Monica College Adams in his office elaborating on the Livesafe Safety App for students on campus. On the wall behind hangs a plaque which he was given for his service in the FBI below that on the Counter is his challenge coin collection. (Neil O’Loughlin | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College remained closed nearly a year due to COVID-19. Chief Adams explained burglaries took place “because no one was around” and labeled this type of crime “Opportunity Burglaries.” He said, “typically in a year we have around 400 [to] 500 reports. This year we are now on number 67. So you can see from COVID, there’s not a lot of activity.”

During the lockdown, one out of the three emergency trailers, owned by SMC, was stolen off Parking Lot 5 on Pearl St. during the middle of the night. This emergency trailer was equipped with a generator, emergency food and medical supplies as preparation for a possible earthquake.

The thief used a UHAUL truck with stolen license plates to drive away with the trailer. It was recovered but the supplies had long been taken and the case remains an open investigation. Chief Adams labeled this burglary as “the biggest one we’ve had.” Steel bar boots have since been placed on the remaining two emergency trailers.

Chief Adams said that the campus experiences mostly “minor thefts.” For example, the Bookstore was targeted during the lockdown, power cords around campus were stolen, and a staff member left a car window down at the parking structure at the Bundy campus allowing a passerby to break in. “ This was a crime of opportunity."

The first order of system placed by the SMC Police Department is the direct phone line: (310) 434 - 4300. Chief Adams says that “If you dial 911, it’s not coming through the college, it’s going to the local cell tower which then goes to Santa Monica P.D.” It creates a delay in help arriving to assist you. Directly contacting the campus police will ensure quicker aid.

To find the phone number, download the SMC GO Application, click on the Menu tab, scroll down to the Tools section and click “Campus Emergency.”

The LiveSafe Safety Application is being developed and will be integrated with the SMC GO App, allowing students to upload pictures, texts, videos and audio recordings.

SMC operates under 1300 video surveillance cameras, recording 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Campus police dispatchers have access to 30 live feed cameras at all times. Chief Adams said, "the cameras are a huge deterrent in a lot of crimes.”

“I think we are very fortunate. We have a good community who are diligent.” Chief Adams said he “anticipates that there will be a lot more activity as we have more students come on campus...We have many systems in place so that if we get alerted to it we respond right away.”

To learn more about SMC safety visit here.