By Ellen Schmidt/Murphy News Service

A string of burglaries on and near campus during the past six weeks led to a crime alert earlier in the week.

Three of the burglaries took place in the Mayo Building on the University of Minnesota’s East Bank campus.

The dated building has lax security, University Police Deputy Chief Chuck Miner said, and is the only building that doesn’t have tight physical security measures like UCard access. He said it’s connected to several campus buildings, including the Gopher Way, making it easier for burglars to hide at night and enter the building.

“The building is more susceptible to this kind of activity [burglaries],” Miner said.

The crime alert sent out addressed a burglary on Sept. 9, and showed the photo of a suspect. Since the alert, UMPD has received several phone calls about the suspect, but have made no arrests, Miner said.

He said the long holiday weekend was a prime time for burglaries, and UMPD has since added officers and increased security near the Mayo Building.

To prevent burglaries from happening, the UMPD suggests that people keep track of their keys, lock doors and stow away valuables.

Reporter Ellen Schmidt is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota.