The Associated Students of Cerritos College Building was broken into once again, but this time it resulted with a staff member’s master key being stolen.
Amna Jara, coordinator of student activities, confirmed that another break-in took place at the ASCC office and that the burglar(s) gained entry through the door of BK 111.
According to Jara, the break-in was discovered on Saturday, Nov. 3. She received a call from Cerritos College Campus Police officials informing her of the incident around 2 p.m.
She also states that campus police believe that it happened sometime on Friday, Nov. 2.
When she arrived on Monday, Nov. 5, she reported to campus police what she found to be missing from her office.
“They went through all of our offices and they stole a bunch of tools out of my office, they stole a projector, they stole electronics,” Jara said about what was stolen.
ASCC Athletics Commissioner Daniel Gomez is frustrated at the fact that Jara’s office was broken into.
“Of all the people involved in student activities, she is the backbone of everything,” Gomez said.
ASCC Athletics Commissioner Daniel Gomez questions the procedures set in place by the Cerritos College Campus Police Department.
“The fact that we’ve had so many break-ins in the last two months kind of makes me question what campus police are doing when we are not here. It’s ridiculous that the fact that the people were here for enough time to steal and go through every office,” Gomez said.
ICC Commissioner Abner Caguioa was informed on Monday, Nov. 5 about the break-in and what was stolen upon arriving to the Associated Students of Cerritos College office.
He was told that the master keys were specifically targeted.
“I found out yesterday when I went to ASCC. We were told that we were broken into again and that the master keys were stolen and targeted,” Caguioa said.
ASCC President Lance Makinano believes that a student or someone who is involved with ASCC is involved in the burglary.
“They knew where the keys were. It has to be a student or someone that’s involved with ASCC, which is very saddening, but no one else would of known where these keys were, nor what they know that they open up certain areas,” Makinano said.
“The bottom line is that we have to protect the students.”
Makinano added that the school is currently in the process of replacing the locks that the keys open and that campus and student safety will be discussed in the next Board of Trustee meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. An open forum, which allows attendees to sign up for time to speak openly to the Board of Trustees during the meeting, will take place.
Board of Trustees President Bob Arthur commented on the situation saying, “Dr. Lacy has added extra security and a new security system is being put in. It’s unfortunate that another break in has happened so soon.”
Cerritos College Police Chief Richard Bukowiecki was unavailable to comment on the break-in.
Contribtors: Editor-in-Chief Patrick Dolly, Managing Editor Sarah Niemann, News Editor Lauren Gandara, Audio Editor Tania Olivas
