At 3 a.m. on a weekend, the last thing junior health sciences major Frankie Capristo imagined was waking to an unknown man standing in her room.<\/p>\n
For many students, the end of Chapman\u2019s on-campus housing requirement<\/a> marks a turning point, when dorm life gives way to independence and the first real taste of adulthood. But for some, like Capristo, adulthood comes with the harsh reality of a home break-in.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s easy to think, \u2018oh that\u2019ll never happen to me,\u2019 until it does happen,\u201d Capristo told The Panther.\u00a0<\/p>\n This school year, approximately 70% of seniors and juniors have already completed the former two-year \u2014 now three-year<\/a> \u2014 on-campus living requirements and elected to live off campus, according to Dean of Students Jerry Price.<\/p>\n \u201cPart of learning independence is choosing what residential experience to have,\u201d Price said. \u201cDoing whatever we can to keep all of our students safe during their years at Chapman is extremely important to us, regardless of where they live.\u201d<\/p>\n While the university stresses safety, off-campus life can still carry unexpected risks.<\/p>\n Back in October, Capristo\u2019s home, which she rents with her five other roommates, was broken into by an intoxicated man. It\u2019s believed that he broke in through a side door, stealing small items \u2014 a hat, sweater and a case of beer \u2014 before wandering deeper into the house and into two of the girls\u2019 rooms.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI had spoken to him and asked him to leave, but he was very much not sober,\u201d she said. \u201cHe seemed very confused.\u201d<\/p>\n Capristo called the Orange Police Department (OPD)<\/a> and remained on the phone with the dispatcher until officers arrived. OPD responded within minutes and had also called in Chapman\u2019s Public Safety (P-Safe)<\/a>.<\/p>\n The man was arrested and is currently awaiting a hearing on his sentence length.\u00a0<\/p>\n Since the incident, Capristo and her roommates have worked with their landlord to replace locks and doorknobs at all entry points, as well as to maintain their Ring doorbell camera, which contributed to the swift arrest of the intruder.<\/p>\n \u201c(My roommates and I) have started to use our experience to spread the word about safety precautions,\u201d she said. \u201cWhile our camera didn\u2019t stop the man, it helped catch him and brings us peace of mind now.\u201d<\/p>\n While Chapman is not directly responsible for students living off campus, Ricardo Gonzalez,<\/a> chief of P-Safe, said that the university and OPD maintain a strong relationship and regularly share crime statistics and trend information that may impact the campus community.<\/p>\n \u201cDoing what we can to support the safety of all students throughout their years at Chapman is extremely important,\u201d Gonzalez said.<\/p>\n Official reports for 2025 have yet to be released. Gonzalez said that across the city of Orange, Part I crimes, which include robbery, burglary, rape and aggravated assault, are down 21% from 2024 to 2025. More specifically, residential burglaries are down 18%, from 125 in 2024 to 102 in 2025.<\/p>\n Chapman\u2019s P-Safe daily crime log<\/a> from Dec. 4 to Feb. 4 records multiple accounts of theft, trespassing and prowling in university resident life areas, including school-owned apartments like Chapman Court<\/a> and The K<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI think no matter where you live, there is always that risk,\u201d said senior environmental studies major Liz Wakamatsu. \u201cI think what is important is being cautious.\u201d<\/p>\n P-Safe has a Residential Protection Unit that specifically patrols Chapman Court, Chapman Grand<\/a> and Panther Village<\/a>. To monitor safety on campus and at school-owned off-campus residence halls, P-Safe officers use surveillance cameras, license plate recognition cameras, emergency blue phones and their safety app<\/a>.<\/p>\n For students living off campus, Gonzalez advises taking proactive steps to support their safety, such as getting to know neighbors to build awareness and assess the security of their residence. Chapman provides guidance and resources for student tenants in their Panther\u2019s Guide to Living Off Campus<\/a>.<\/p>\n