Rock Towne townhomes offer students living spaces that are fully furnished with numerous pieces of furniture and also a flat-screen television.
The idea of getting a TV included with the price of his new apartment appealed to Patrick Taylor at first. Taylor, a student at Shippensburg University and new resident at Rock Towne, woke up to his apartment being slightly less furnished than what he was used to one morning during the Labor Day weekend.
Where Patrick’s television used to sit is now an empty space. During the time between Pat going to bed and waking up for class the following morning, someone broke in and stole the 42-inch TV that Rock Towne provided to him. In addition to the television, a friend’s money was stolen from a wallet that was lying on the kitchen counter.
Taylor and his roommate contacted the Pennsylvania State Police to inform them of the incident. A trooper responded to the call and investigated the scene. He concluded there was no forced entry into the apartment. Also, there was no way the windows were used for entry, police said.
They also told Taylor whoever took the television knew what they were going to steal before breaking in based on the lack of force and the closeness of the television to the front door.
Patrick also informed his property manager, Amanda Washington, of the theft, only to find out that another break-in occurred just one week before.
The item stolen in that incident is the same, as well as the manner in which it was stolen. No sign of forced entry and no sign of a window entry were reported.
The one difference between the crimes is that the first theft occurred when no residents were home.
“I don’t understand how someone could get in without physically breaking something,” Taylor said. “I lock the door and the windows every single night.”
The doors at Rock Towne are unique. They involve an electronic key that contains a microchip that has to be waved over a specific spot next to the door handle in order to operate the dead bolt.
Only residents and the property workers have these electronic keys to enter the homes.
The property manager is the only person that has a master key and the programmer for these keys.
Police are unsure if there is any possibility that someone can obtain the technology used by Rock Towne property workers to program the locks.
Tenants at Rock Towne can only hope that ensuring their doors and windows are locked will be enough to keep any future thefts from happening.
“I am honestly scared to think that someone has the ability to get into my apartment while I’m sleeping without me knowing,” Taylor said.
Anyone with any information about these break-ins is urged to contact the police.
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