The St. Paul Academy and Summit School campus is a relatively safe campus compared to most high schools. Students feel free to leave laptops, backpacks, and coats unattended, and can be confident to find them exactly where they were left. Thefts and break-ins are a rarity, so it’s even more jarring when they do happen. On Friday, Mar. 15 at 4:40 pm an SPA vehicle was broken into and a backpack and other valuables were stolen.

“Unfortunately, we do not have very much information. The suspect vehicle was a black in color pickup truck, unknown license plate or suspect information. It took approximately 5 minutes for the vehicle to pull up, break the window, take the items, and flee the scene. The responding Officer from the St. Paul Police Department did receive a copy of the video footage that SPA was able to provide,” the Safety and Security advisor Craig Kosse said.

While instances like these are rare, it’s always good practice to be conscious of keeping valuables and bags out of sight or out of the car.

“SPA is a safe campus and community that occasionally falls victim to crime. The majority of vehicle break-ins are crimes of opportunity so not leaving items visible in your vehicle, especially items of value, is the most important step that anyone can take in order to minimize their risk of becoming a victim of theft. Please be mindful of your surroundings and report suspicious activity immediately to Security when on campus,” Kosse said.