The University Police Department wants to install security cameras in the university's main parking lots because of the recent car break-ins, Police Chief Gene Burton said.
Cameras are needed in the stadium parking lots and the H2 Lot behind the Johnson Complex, he said.
"If you look, there's very little foot traffic in and around these lots," Burton said.
More than 30 cars parked on campus were broken into in the last two weeks. Police arrested Muncie residents Anthony Lynn Van Scyoc, 20, and Richard Barba, 24, on Tuesday on charges of criminal mischief and possession of stolen property. UPD is investigating the men in relation to the series of car break-ins.
Burton said he will discuss the installation's details and begin to seek the administration's approval with Randy Hyman, dean of students and interim vice president of student affairs and enrollment management.
Freshman Asher Lisec, chair of the Student Government Association's safety committee, said students in her committee were also looking into a proposal for putting cameras in the parking lots.
"Student Senate is working on drafting a piece of legislation that will be brought to the agenda committee on Monday and then the general assembly on Wednesday," Lisec said.
She is planning to discuss the proposal with Burton as well as Hyman.
"I know it's something the senators want done immediately," she said. "If people are able to do it once, there's a chance it would happen again."
To prevent more incidents, UPD increased patrols and officer presence in the campus parking lots and are considering fencing in parking lots and blocking off some of the entrances to the stadium lots, Burton said.
"We have a couple different ideas of how to limit accessibility to our parking lots," Burton said.
The stadium lots have four entrances. Closing off two of the entrances, except for football games, would make it more difficult for thieves to escape, he said. Also, UPD has considered putting cameras at the entrances of the parking lots to photograph cars going in and out.
"The cameras in the parking lots should be a little bit faster process than the other things," Burton said.
The technology is already in place, and it just needs to be connected, he said.
"I know this is a growing problem, and I would like students to feel safe parking their cars," Lisec said.