Watch above: University of Saskatchewan students say over 50 vehicles were broken into overnight at one of the campus residences in Saskatoon. Amber Rockliffe reports.
SASKATOON – Students at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) said more than 50 vehicles were broken into overnight at one of the campus residences. U of S biology student Andres Posso and his wife Mirtha Bonilla woke up Saturday morning to find the front windows of their car smashed.
They said repairing the damage will cost them more than $500.
“It’s insane. That means next month, basically I’m not going to have money for food. So this situation right now, I don’t know what to do,” Posso explained.
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When he looked out at the rest of the parking lot this morning, he found car after car damaged, their windows smashed, trunks open, and valuables gone.
“My car was broken into, the windows broken, and when I came to check on my car after a neighbour alerted me to the break-ins, I found a wallet in my car that didn’t belong to me,” explained Izabela Vlahu, a U of S mathematics student.
Many of the students were outraged, and said this is an ongoing problem that the university knows about.
“I have been living here for the last four years, and the situation we have been seeing today it’s not new to us. It’s happened almost every year,” explained campus resident Jebunnessa Chapola.
“I can’t believe the university hasn’t done anything about this. What has to happen before something gets done?” asked U of S student Twilah Smallchild.
A camera sits nine stories up on top of one of the residences, but students who live there said it doesn’t work properly.
“The camera is too old to be able to identify the individuals who did this,” Vlahu explained.
“Everyone’s stuggling, student life is a struggle, and these people pay thousands and thousands of dollars to park here, and I want to see some action from the U of S,” said Smallchild.
In a statement, the university said it plans to add security cameras, improve lighting and ramp up patrols in the area.
The students are rallying together to ensure those measures are implemented, and said they won’t stop until that happens. Many of the students are planning to meet Sunday night at one of the central residences at 7 p.m. to discuss a plan of action.
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