Celia Bueno
Senior Staff Writer
On Oct. 25, during Halloweekend, a costumed man forced his way into a house on Del Playa Drive (D.P.). Occupants’ attempts to prevent his entry were in vain, and the intruder broke into the building. The residents of D.P., accustomed to these types of incidents, have become more aware of the need to protect their homes using their own resources.
That night, the tenants of the house, who have chosen to remain anonymous, were, in their words, “people watching” from their front yard. Suddenly, an individual approached their home. Ignoring their warnings, the man climbed over the fence into the yard. The two residents tried all they could to keep him from getting inside, but the intruder managed to break into their place and even entered a bedroom where one of the residents was sleeping.
The situation finally de-escalated as they moved him outside; he threw a table at one resident’s leg and then fled. Hours later, the individual was arrested in the vicinity after starting a fight.
“We’re very used to people just walking up to ask if they can use our bathroom,” a D.P. inhabitant told The Bottom Line (TBL). “Some don’t even ask, they just come in assuming it’s a public party.”
During Friday and Saturday nights, D.P. is one of the busiest streets in Isla Vista (I.V.). Dozens of parties take place there each weekend. While many are open-invite, some are private and require knowing someone inside to get in. On these party nights, the concept of private property is often disregarded, as it has become common for people to walk onto private lawns without asking. For this reason, hosts of private parties have started blocking entrances to keep out uninvited guests.
Residents of I.V. are aware of the risk of unlocked doors during weekend nights. The dark streets and the intoxication of party-goers can lead to situations similar to what occurred on Oct. 25. While some people invest in sophisticated security methods to keep intruders out, others stick to more traditional approaches: “Whenever we host a private party, we’re constantly locking and unlocking the door,” shared another D.P. resident. Leaving the key in the lock and constantly opening and closing the gate may not be the most convenient option, but it is an effective strategy if there is nothing else available to block the entrance. Those who use this tactic also closely monitor who comes in and out, as they have to check the door with each new arrival.
If the party is in the yard or patio, the door to the inside of the house often remains locked all night. But how can you stop strangers from entering the yard? “We have a huge table that we place as an extension of our fence,” said another D.P. resident to TBL. Aluminum fences, wooden boards, beer pong tables, or any large surface can work as an extension of the wall to keep uninvited guests out of private gatherings.
Another effective strategy is to appoint someone to manage the entrance. It is helpful if they are fairly strict and double-check responses to, “Who do you know here?”
If renters would rather not monitor the door constantly, some recommend using portable door locks, which are affordable and easy to install. These locks use a simple mechanism by which the door is closed by a thin chain that can be easily removed. This portable lock can be installed and uninstalled regularly without damaging the door or the actual lock.
Since last August, four trespassing reports have been filed and three others led to arrests in I.V. This figure reflects the numerous incidents that occur in the area. Homes on streets such as Trigo, Del Playa, and Sabado Tarde are especially vulnerable to intrusions on Friday and Saturday nights, when celebrations attract large crowds.