University police are investigating a burglary that occurred in the Chi Omega sorority house on Monday night.
A man entered the sorority house on 708 Hilgard Ave. at around 11 p.m. through a door that was not locking properly, said Courtney Heck, a fourth-year psychology student and Chi Omega president. A younger member saw the man on the second floor and notified Heck, who chased him out of the house, she said.
The man, who was not a guest of any of the sorority members, did not steal anything, and he did not touch or talk to anybody in the house, Heck said.
“It was a very surreal and strange situation,” she said.
While nothing has been reported stolen from the Chi Omega house, police suspect the man intended to burglarize the house, said university police Sgt. Scott Scheffler.
He said sorority houses are often targeted because there is a high number of people coming in and out, and the houses look large and expensive to people not from the area.
Scheffler said it is worrisome anytime a person trespasses in a home, but it can be more concerning when the incident occurs in a sorority house because of the number of women living there.
“Knowing someone was in your house while you were sleeping, that is a lot more scary than just having your stuff stolen,” he said.
Heck said Chi Omega members still feel safe in the house, but the sorority has since fixed its faulty door and is paying extra attention to security issues ““ including installing additional alarms on doors ““ for safe measure. Chi Omega is also encouraging other sorority chapters at UCLA to maintain the security of their houses for the safety of their members, according to a statement by Chi Omega’s house corporation board.
The man is described as 22- to 30-years-old, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall and 160 to 185 pounds, according to a UCPD report released Tuesday. He was wearing a dark-colored long-sleeved shirt and blue baseball cap, the report stated.
UCPD recommends students lock all doors and windows in their homes, not open the door for strangers, and make sure the entrances in their homes are well-lit.
Anyone with information about this burglary can call UCPD at 301-825-1491.
Compiled by Kylie Reynolds, Bruin senior staff. Contributing reports by Erin Donnelly, Bruin senior staff.