The Big Country experienced a rash of burglaries this summer during mid to late July - an unusual trend for the Abilene community.

The ACU Police Department assisted the Abilene Police Department to cover the increased number of cases over the last several months, including one involving a campus faculty member.

Brandon Young, assistant professor of art and design, was just one Abilenian to fall victim to a summer burglary.

“I woke up and remember looking for my iPod and couldn’t find it,” Young said. “I walked out into the kitchen and didn’t even notice other items were gone.”

The stolen items included a laptop, an iPad, an iPod Touch and several computers.

Young said the break-in occurred when everyone in the house was asleep, either late night on July 30 or early morning on July 31.

Responding police officers told Young that the burglary case was unusual because the family was in residence at the time of the crime.

“It was just very unexpected and unsettling,” Young said.

Young said he was unsure how he would have reacted had he been awake to challenge the criminal.

“Ultimately, we were safe and protected,” Young said. “We are thankful that there was no confrontation because you never know what they would do or what kind of state they are in.”

The following Monday, Young received word from an Abilene police officer that a suspect had been arrested and confessed to 17 other burglaries in the area.

Among the common crimes committed during the Abilene summer were residence and car burglaries, criminal mischief incidents and noise complaints, said ACU Police Chief Jimmy Ellison.

“This burglary helps illustrate that it can happen to any of us,” Ellison said. “These kinds of things can and do happen.”

Ellison said he stresses that students lock all windows and doors, utilize security lighting around their homes and report any suspicious activity.

The ACU Police Department patrols the ACU community 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be reached at 674-2911 or at acu.police@acu.edu.