BERKELEY, Calif. (KCBS RADIO) – Thousands of University of California, Berkeley students are at risk after master keys to an apartment complex were stolen last week.
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Cal officials have said it could take weeks to replace all the locks at University Village, a student family housing complex in Albany, leaving residents vulnerable to theft. Currently there are 976 units at the village, providing 2,500 people with a place to live across the 58-acre property.
On Friday, UC Berkeley officials discovered the theft of a UVA lockbox which contained master keys to the entire Village. "This means that someone potentially could access apartments," Adam Ratliff, a university spokesperson, admitted to KCBS Radio.
According to Ratliff, the college is committed to having all locks modified by May 13. In the meantime, Cal has offered reimbursements for hotels or lock changes that residents may choose to have done by a third party. They are also offering door security items such as chains and sensors.
"We are prioritizing the safety of our residents, and offering them various forms of support," Ratliff said. "We are continuing to communicate with these students as the matter develops and we are working on solutions."
The UC Berkeley Police Department has also increased their patrols. Security Patrol Officers are now stationed onsite at University Village 24 hours a day.
A similar incident occurred in 2020, in which master keys from the same complex were stolen.
KCBS Radio has reached out to UCPD for comment, but has not yet heard back.
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