During the winter vacation some apartments were broken into just off Keene State College campus, resulting in safety concerns among local students.
Before the start of the spring semester, KSC students and roommates Nikki Cowell and Victoria Folk said they had their apartment on Winchester Court broken into on two occasions. The house was first broken into on December 20, and both Cowell and Folk said they had not realized the apartment was ever invaded.
“The first time nobody was in [the apartment],” Cowell said.
Cowell said she had accidentally left a back door unlocked before she left for work while Folk was on vacation. When asked if she had noticed anything strange about the appearance of the apartment, Cowell said, “A couple drawers were open but my landlord was supposed to come in that day so I was like ‘Oh maybe they were just looking for something.’ I really didn’t think anything of it.”
Although their apartment seemed unharmed, Folk’s ATM card was stolen from the premises. Folk and Cowell said they realized the card was taken days later.
A week or so after the first break in, a second attempted burglary took place, this time while Cowell was still in the apartment.
Photo Illustration / Tim Smith / Photo Editor
“I was asleep one night around 3 a.m. when I heard someone trying to get in,” Cowell said, “But we had a deadbolt on [the door] so they couldn’t pick a deadbolt.”
Cowell said she also heard banging noises and a man swearing in frustration. Cowell immediately called 911 and law enforcement arrived, quickly scaring away the burglar. Police revealed to Folk that they had reports of her ATM card being used, and that they suspected it was the same person who broke into the apartment that night Folk said.
Folk said, “They [Keene Police] said they know who it is from them arresting him because apparently he was trying to use my card.”
Folk also said she was told by police that the home invader is being charged for multiple counts of burglary because they had found out of other residences he had broken into.
In addition to Cowell and Folk’s apartment being broken into, two other break-ins took place on Winchester Court, including their next-door neighbors, who had their back door kicked in. Break-ins on Blake and Grove Street were also reported. As far as home safety precautions are concerned, Cowell and Folk said their landlord installed new locks and fixed Folk’s bedroom door, which had a broken hinge from the first break-in.
Although alterations for security’s sake have been made to their home, both Cowell and Folk are still fearful of this traumatic occurrence taking place again, especially after Cowell said she found a machete in their basement just a day before speaking with the Equinox.
“I can’t even be alone now,” Cowell said. “I went and visited my boyfriend in Boston and I kept waking up in his apartment all night even though his apartment is perfectly safe.”
Folk shared the same lingering fears. “I’m definitely paranoid and I just feel invaded that someone was in our house going through our stuff,” she said.
KSC student and Davis Street resident Emilee Silegy was a victim of burglary last July during summer vacation.
“He [the burglar] stole some of my medications, he stole my laptop and I didn’t get that stuff back until the end of October,” Silegy said.
The burglar was apprehended when Silegy informed authorities of the break-in after coming home to the man in her house/apartment, according to Silegy.
“I think this is something that’s always happened,” Silegy said. “Even as a freshman, Myrtle Street used to get robbed every single break. They [residents of Myrtle Street] would get their laptops, TVs and anything else that they left taken. I think everyone just knows that this area is so prevalent with college students that when they go on break, even if the doors locked it’s still easy to break in.”
Cowell and Folk both said they try to stay positive and live their everyday lives as they usually would.
Folk said, “We just have to remember that it’s not break anymore, so they’re hopefully not going to try and get in again and that will make us feel less nervous.”
After repeated attempts, KPD was unable to comment before deadline.
Nick can be contacted at ntocco@kscequinox.com
