Parking permit theft numbers spike

CD players and subwoofer speakers aren't the only commodities in students' cars being stolen. \nIn the last month, the IU Police Department has documented 30 cases of stolen parking decals. That's more than half the total number of permits stolen in the entire fall semester last year. \nSince moving into the Foster Quad dorm this semester, freshman Robert Hellmann has had his dorm parking permit stolen. \n"I just ran into my dorm for, like, five, 10 minutes," Hellmann said. "When I came back out, it was gone."\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said it's typical to see more reports of permit thefts than usual at the beginning of the semester. \n"It's a cyclical thing that happens," Minger said.\nIn October 2004, IUPD received 28 reports of stolen decals. But the 2004 and 2005 statisics are a sharp spike from the three reports received in October 2003. \nTwo decals were reported stolen to IUPD Tuesday alone. \n"Realize that not everybody can get a decal," Minger said. \nNot only are permits in high demand because a limited number of parking spaces exist in the lots, but they're also valuable. Prices for a permit range from $15 to $207. \nHellmann said his permit was worth more than $100. \n"The guy from Parking Operations was pretty nice," Hellmann said. "He replaced it for me for free." \nDoug Porter, manager of IU Parking Operations, said each "hangtag" is encoded in a computer system. When someone reports a stolen tag, Parking Operations replaces it without a charge but invalidates the missing permit in case someone should try to use it illegally. \nThe price of getting caught, however, is much higher than the money saved on a stolen permit, he said. \n"E-permits cost $84," Porter explained, "but the ticket for using a lost or stolen permit is $200 and to tow is probably another $75." \nPorter said those trying to use invalid permits are usually caught because they have violated parking regulations in some way. People can get away with using a stolen permit, but it's a big risk, he said. \n"These are crimes of opportunity," Minger said. "If a door is unlocked, a window, sunroof or convertible top is open -- it's a temptation." \nHellmann said in the few minutes he was in his dorm, his permit was stolen because he left his window rolled down. \nAs obvious as it sounds, lock your doors and never leave windows open, Minger said, especially in the large athletic facility lots that don't have any supervision.