A recent increase in car break-ins and car thefts has left Castleton University students and locals alarmed. 

Several vehicles in Castleton and nearby towns have been rifled through, tampered with and even stolen in recent weeks. 

Castleton Police say while most of the stolen cars have been recovered, at least one is still missing, and the suspects have yet to be identified.

A worrisome pattern seems to be occurring.  The offenders appear to target unlocked vehicles in search of valuables or car keys left inside. 

However, oddly enough, not many things have been taken. 

Police Chief Peter Manetello says some stolen cars have been taken for joyrides and then abandoned in surrounding parking lots. Others have been searched, with the contents scattered, but remarkably few items have been stolen.

Stone Stelzl, a Castleton senior, was one of the many whose car was targeted.

“Nothing was stolen from my car, not even the change in my center console, but everything was all over the place on my front seat,” he said. “They could’ve stolen some stuff, but nothing of huge value.”

While Stelzl was lucky to have lost nothing, the circumstances of the incident make him wonder why this is happening in a small college town.

“I think they are just looking for keys in cars to steal the cars from the looks of it, considering nothing was taken from my car,” he said. “I think it’s pretty messed up, though. Especially in a small college town where this is happening. I’m just thankful nothing was taken from my car, but others might not have had the same luck.”

CJ Childs, another Castleton student, has had an even more painful experience. 

His car was flat-out stolen. 

“My car was stolen roughly a week and a half ago. When I woke up to find it missing, I was pretty mad, to say the least,” he said. “I contacted the police, and it still has not been found, which is weird because my car is the only one that hasn’t been recovered since the break-ins started happening.”

Childs stated that his roommates’ cars had been rifled through, but the thieves stole nothing—even when there were expensive items and valuables that could’ve been taken. 

“All of my roommates’ cars that were unlocked were searched through, but oddly enough, nothing was stolen, even though there was a wallet and a $100 watch in one of their cars.”

Mantello verified that at least nine cars were taken in three weeks, but the problem is not confined to Castleton. 

“What these people are doing is they would go through cars, checking handles, and if there were keys inside, they’d take the car, drive it to another town, and swap it for another one.”

Mantello noted that all stolen vehicles except Childs had been recovered. Police believe there are numerous suspects, including at least two juveniles. Authorities are waiting for DNA test results from evidence found in some of the stolen cars that were not there before. Mantello emphasized that obtaining usable DNA from a car is difficult unless the offender leaves something behind, such as a cigarette or coffee cup.

The unpredictability of what was taken, and not taken, has many victims and students confused. Some students’ vehicles glove compartments and armrests were searched and items were taken like cash and some technology, but others had valuable stuff left unharmed despite their exposure. 

Another student, Trey Lavigne, had a new truck battery taken but was pleased that his more expensive items remained untouched. 

“They could’ve stolen my snowboard and other winter gear, which is not cheap, but they didn’t,” he said.

Lavigne assumes that for economic reasons the crimes are occurring.

“I believe people are breaking in since, during this season, they may be out of a job and need a way to make money,” he said. “Many jobs are seasonal and occur in spring or summer, such as landscaping, paving, etc.”

Students like Rylee Pepin are worried that the break-ins take place so close to their houses. 

“It was pretty frightening. Not even that my car was broken into, because nothing was taken, but that they were in our driveway, so close to our house.”

Frustration is growing among students and community members as these break-ins occur more frequently. Childs, whose car is still missing, has taken it upon himself to look for it in surrounding towns.

“I have been keeping a lookout,” he said. “I find myself checking behind houses and other buildings when I’m driving through Rutland and Fair Haven to see if I can find my car.”

Mantello emphasized that prevention is key.

“People think their cars are being broken into, but really, most of these cases involve unlocked vehicles,” he said. “If there’s something valuable in plain sight, then they might break in, but a lot of these cars have been unlocked.”

Mantello recommended taking simple security precautions to prevent becoming victims.

“The biggest thing is prevention—lock your car doors, don’t leave valuables inside, and be situationally aware,” he said. “If you see someone creeping around, and I hate to use the word ‘creeping,’ but everyone does, report it. We can check them out, and see if they belong in the area.”

Authorities warn that thefts may increase as spring and summer approach. As the weather gets warmer and more people start to go out at night, this could become an issue. 

Mantello also advised students and homeowners to consider installing security cameras, saying that even small, portable cameras that use Wi-Fi can be effective.

For the time being, Castleton students and locals are on high alert, hoping for answers—and that the thefts will stop.