The University of Washington, with 616 cases, had the seventh-highest amount of reported property crime spread among 55,508 students, according to 2019 FBI university data. From 2011 to 2015, the U.S. Department of Education also noticed the numbers of burglaries going up at the university, writes Daily UW. Thieves aren’t letting multiple hurdles stop them, either. Students have had their belongings stolen from locked storage containers in the basements of university buildings, for example (via Daily UW).
Seattle as a whole has also had an issue with property crime for a long time. Additionally, the economic inequality caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may cause the problem to worsen, writes the Seattle Spectator. Prior to the Seattle mayoral race, both candidates put property crime and homelessness towards the top of their agendas for the city. Time will tell how well changes help the issues Seattle faces — and has faced in the past.
According to the Seattle Spectator, the top worst districts of the city in regards to property crime are Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, and Northgate. Luckily for UW students, the university is in the University District of the city. Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
