Four cars in Lot 1 were broken into Monday, following numerous thefts in the structure in the past two weeks, according to university police.
The thefts are “serial but not regular,” said UCPD spokeswoman Nancy Greenstein. Although no thefts occurred Tuesday or Wednesday, Greenstein said a number of cars have recently had their windows and doors smashed in the structure, which provides parking for the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
Considering the number of robberies that occurred Monday, Greenstein said it is a possibility that the thefts are connected, but UCPD will need to investigate more.
Laptops were among the most stolen items, though bags and jackets were also taken.
Peter Cullen, a hospital visitor who had his car broken into on Monday but had nothing stolen, said police told him the thieves have been looking for laptops.
For Detroy Womack, a 1985 UCLA alumnus who visited the hospital Monday, the thefts were more personal. Though a laptop and two jackets were stolen from Womack’s car, he said the loss of his wife’s sketches and original stories were worse than the monetary damage.
“That is the price of living in L.A.,” Womack said. “I have had many break-ins during my time here.”
In response to the robberies, Greenstein said police will be putting up additional signs in the parking lots and adding patrols to the area.
To prevent future thefts, police recommend people lock their car doors and not leave any belongings in plain view in their car.