Despite concerns on campus about a “Peeping Tom,” the university Department of Public Safety denies that any such incidents have occurred.
“We don’t have any incident reports of a Peeping Tom or stalking on campus,” said Chief Algray Pettus.
However, there have been cases of a Peeping Tom in the surrounding community in a popular Prairie View student housing complex, the Brookside Meadows apartment complex.
“We had a few incidents where females have reported someone looking through the window,” said Lieutenant Wilbert White of the City of Prairie View Police Department. “They say he’s short, black, kind of chubby, and he’s always wearing black. They can’t describe his face because he’s always wearing black,” he continued.
The description of the suspect matches one of a former student who was banned from the campus and issued a trespassing citation when he was sighted on campus again.
According to Lt. White, the incidents occurred in November and late December, and none have occurred yet this year.
“The incidents are most likely to occur between the hours of 12 a.m. and 3 a.m. We are urging all young ladies traveling at night to be aware and lock your doors behind you. Be aware of your surroundings. Let your roommate know when you’re coming and leaving. If you arrive at home and see someone sitting in a car, don’t go in your apartment. Call someone to come get you,” Lt. White said.
Victims allege that the suspect stands over them and watches them sleep.
“I just woke up with him in my face,” one victim who wishes to remain anonymous said. “We don’t know how he got into the apartment,” she said.
“In these incidents, we cannot find any forced entry, no damage to screens, and they are unsure who was the last person in the house and if they locked the door. So we ask the victims how did he get in and they are unsure,” Lt. White said.
The Brookside Meadows apartment complex has taken steps to resolve the issue but it still poses a problem for its residents.
“Because of the Peeping Tom, they put keyless deadbolts on each of our doorways and they gave us the option to have them installed on our room doors. It works but my roommate locked me out the other day, so we asked them to remove them but they said this is the best way to keep out the Peeping Tom,” said Domonique Pugh, a Prairie View student and Brookside Meadows resident.
During this semester’s building meeting, the University Village warned all residents there is a Peeping Tom and to be sure to lock all windows and doors.
“We will work with local law enforcement to see what they will do and we may issue a timely warning to females on campus,” said Chief Pettus. “We just want to secure the campus and the immediate surrounding areas.”