Photo courtesy of Cheng Qian
On Oct. 24, the Sterling Sierra apartment complex northeast of campus garnered citywide attention because of its newest resident: an SUV submerged in the complex’s pool.
Managing to get a four-ton vehicle into a gated courtyard is not an easy task, but that is exactly what happened last Friday morning.
This event, which occurred one week before Halloween, serves as a reminder that the days leading up to the holiday are notorious for high rates of vandalism.
Halloween is a time to socialize with friends, dress up in costumes and, for the big kids on campus, a time to go trick-or-treating in surrounding neighborhoods. However, students can sometimes forget that the holiday should not be a reason to act outlandishly, even if their costumes say otherwise.
According to the websites of Esurance, Mercury and a variety of other insurance providers, Halloween is the worst night of the year for vandalism. On the day before Halloween last year, The Washington Post published an article providing data of insurance claims from vandalism incidents from 2008 to 2012.
The study, conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute, showed that on average, there are 692 claims that ranged from broken windows to slashed tires. However, on Halloween, those numbers nearly doubled, showing an average of 1,253 claims for vandalism, the highest number for any day throughout the year.
Halloween vandalism has also found its way into popular media. The 1994 film “The Crow” put the night before Halloween, “Devil’s Night,” into the spotlight by showcasing multiple instances of obscene behavior.
The problem has become so significant that articles have started popping up all over the Internet on how to “protect your home from Halloween pranks and vandalism.” From insurance blogs to security system providers, there are a variety of pages aimed at protecting your home from Halloween vandalism; all you have to do is Google it.
The incident at Sterling Sierra brought the problem of vandalism into the local spotlight. However, this was not the first time the apartment complex has received media attention for vandalism.
After its grand opening, the police reported 42 arrests in the first week alone. There have also been other reported incidents of residents smashing lamps and other furniture on the property. While Sterling has struggled to maintain order in the facility, the complex will be facing its biggest task this weekend and should be on high alert.
It should also be noted that the mixture of vandalism and alcohol go hand in hand. On Halloween, it is almost inevitable that many students will drink, and some will do so to excess. While The Nevada Sagebrush does not condone underage drinking, we recognize that it occurs. However, students should take special precautions this weekend, or they could face severe punishments. Given the nature of previous years, police will be out in full force, and with law enforcement cracking down, students will be responsible for the consequences of their actions.
Ultimately, students should enjoy themselves while being cautious of their consumption and being aware of what their friends are doing. Whether it is at Sterling, the Highlands, an off-campus house or another location, students need to be respectful of others’ property this weekend. If you find yourself partaking in an act of vandalism or breaking the law, you will not only be embarrassing yourself, but you will also be risking severe penalties as well. It is a cliche to mention this, but even if you are not the cause of the destruction, you are still somewhat responsible if you fail to stop it.
The Nevada Sagebrush editorial staff can be reached at cboline@sagebrush.unr.edu.