USF police close case, no leads in stolen car report

A University Police (UP) investigation of a reported stolen car ended Sunday because there were “no leads,” according to a police report.

USF student Alexander A. Rivera reported his tan Dodge Stratus stolen to UP on Sunday at 5:39 p.m.

Rivera said he left his vehicle in parking Lot 43 off Laurel Drive next to Johnnie B. Byrd, Sr. Alzheimer’s Center & Research Institute on Tuesday.

Rivera told police he noticed his car was missing when going to get something out of it.

After searching the nearby parking lots, Rivera and UP were unable to locate the car, the police report said. UP placed the case on “inactive status” Sunday.

UP spokeswoman Lt. Meg Ross said the amount of time between Rivera’s report of the stolen car and when he last parked it could be because Rivera is a resident at Epsilon Hall located near Lot 43.

Ross said there might not have been a need for Rivera to go to his car every day.

Rivera told police he remembered locking the car before leaving it and that the car has a broken headlight on the passenger side.

Rivera was unavailable for comment.

Information about the car was placed in the National Crime Information Center and the Florida Crime Information Center databases should the car be spotted, the police report said.

“It’s hard to say why this car was stolen,” Ross said. “We have had a relatively low number of car thefts.”

Ross said crimes follow a trend around the area depending on how often they occur.

USF student Heather Bradley’s car was stolen from the Collins Boulevard Parking Facility on Sept. 14. Bradley’s backpack contained her car keys was stolen from the library.

Bradley’s car was found Sept. 16 when a student reported seeing the car on campus.

It is important for people to keep their cars locked and know where their keys are, Ross said. Car alarms also help, she said.

“It’s important to remember that if you see someone up to no good that you call the police,” Ross said.