Spring break-in affects multiple students
Another room of the building shows the bed being used and the chair covered in clothing. Photo credit: Colton Mortansen
A house on Hazel Street was burglarized during spring break with majority of the tenants property stolen.
The incident was discovered March 18 by Colton Mortansen, a student from Chico State.
Mortansen along with his four other roommates attend the university, but he was the first person to witness the crime when he entered the home. The interior of the building had clothes on the floor, disorganized mattresses and broken glass.
“You’re not expecting to see a tornado fly through your house,” Mortansen said.
Mortansen filed a police report right when he noticed stolen property and notified his roommates immediately.
“They took a brick from our side yard and they went over to my room and smashed through the window,” Logan Testeraen said.
The roommates believe there is only one suspect involved that stayed over night at their house and left it unlocked for the whole week.
John Cardaris, also a roommate, believes their house was vulnerable for strangers or homeless people to stay in their rooms and take their possessions.
The items stolen include laptops, studio equipment, clothing, food and an XBOX.
Even with four locks on the front, side and bedroom doors the students living in the house thought they had a secure home to leave vacant during the break.
“They took a sense of security from our house,” Mortansen said.
Police were able to collect finger prints of a shaving cream canister as well as shavings from the sink, in hopes of finding a lead, according to Riley Swan.
John Cardaris said the police have not been very cooperative with the group about the ordeal.
“I’ve tried calling two or three times to try to come assess the situation, but they said they were too busy and if it wasn’t life threatening. They couldn’t help,” Cardaris said.
Police have not found a main suspect for the crime.
Each tenant is facing economic difficulties and have started a GoFundMe page with a goal of $3000.
They currently have $550 in the account and hope people can help out in their time of need.
Jafet Serrato can be reached at [email protected] or @jafetserrato on Twitter.
