SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — University of Memphis students are demanding action after a surge in car break-ins over the weekend and into this week. The school confirmed to ABC24 that 36 vehicles have been broken into on or near the campus since Saturday.
Of those incidents, seven vehicles were broken into in front of the Zach Curlin parking garage and the South Curlin parking lot, which is adjacent to the Campus Police Services building.
“The police said there was nothing they could do. They were low on staffing,” said U of M senior Torrell Robinson, whose car at that parking lot was broken into in the early morning hours on Tuesday.
“One of the core values of this university is accountability. And I don't think the leadership as far as the administration and the employees are being held accountable for their lack of performance,” said master’s student Isaiah Perry, who also had his car broken into early Tuesday morning.
He said he had not heard anything from higher ups in the administration like the University President or the Dean regarding the spike in incidents.
“I don’t want to call campus police services and say we were doing something else, which is exactly what they said to one of my other peers and that’s just not okay,” said student Namiah Hughes.
The students said the issue is not being treated with enough urgency by the administration and have demanded a meeting with the dean. They want more security staffing and better communication from the school.
“I am paying my money to you to get my car broken into," Hughes said. "I pay to park here. I pay to be here, and you can't even ensure that me and my belongings are safe."
Perry said a core value of the university is service, but he feels his needs as a student are not being served, and he does not feel safe.
The university sent a statement to ABC24 which reads in part, “The University of Memphis remains committed to safety and security of our campus and our campus community. That security has been shaken for several in our community, and our administration is taking measures to reach out to those directly affected by these crimes to offer resources and support.
In addition, the University is working closely with the Memphis Police Department to identify these suspects and put an end to this spate of attacks.”