Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

Seven cars have been stolen from campus since the beginning of the school year, according to University Police Lt. Lamine Secka. However, Secka said about 80 percent of all cars stolen in San Diego County are recovered within a year.

Over the weekend, one car was reported stolen from Parking Structure 3 and another was burglarized in front of University Towers.

Secka said the number of auto-related offenses increase at the start of the semester because there is an increase in the number of people and vehicles on campus.

Just as car thefts increase at malls during the holidays and at beaches during the summer, auto-related offenses can increase during the start of the semester because there is a greater opportunity, according to M