Since spring break, there have been three larcenies and two attempted larcenies of scooters on campus.
According to Department of Public Safety reports, the scooters were collectively valued at $15,700, but some students said their mopeds were priceless.
Women’s soccer player and sophomore Joanna Boyles said she worries about leaving her scooter alone and said if her scooter were stolen, she would miss the time saved from motor biking to class and practice.
“There’s no way for an athlete that has so much to do in a day to walk from place to place,” she said. “(Scooters) are so convenient.”
Department of Public Safety spokesman Randy Young said the damage observed on the scooters seems to indicate that a thief was trying to gain access to the mechanics. He said the Alert Carolina message was sent out Tuesday in order to alert students to secure their motor vehicles.
“Basically, these (scooters) are considered motorized vehicles so they fall under the Clery Law,” he said. “They fall under the same category as cars, so when there is a series of thefts in motorized vehicles, we are required to report it.”
There are currently 80 scooters registered with UNC’s Transportation and Parking department, and Young said he encourages scooter drivers to secure their scooters with U-locks.
Boyles, however, said the lock can be time-consuming.
