The La Cuesta Inn saw seven incoming Cal Poly freshmen and their families have a different experience than the rest this morning when they awoke to find their vehicles burglarized.
Front desk clerk Nichole Leahy dealt with guests, one-by-one, as each family discovered smashed windows and missing belongings, she said.
“They were pretty upset,” Leahy said. “Parents wanted to speak with the city about making visitors more aware and alert.”
The hotel is not liable for the stolen items, which included a skateboard, guitar and multiple laptops. Some families were unable to determine exactly what was missing, since they brought so many things for move-in day.
The hotel does not have video surveillance in its parking lot, according to general manager Jim Trent.
La Cuesta Inn is located on the north end of Monterey Street, where many hotels were filled with incoming Cal Poly freshmen and their families Sunday night. Another vehicle burglary was reported at Petit Soleil Bed and Breakfast, which is also on Montery Street. Police are currently investigating to see if there is a possible connection.
“These aren’t unusual,” said San Luis Obispo Police Department Captain Chris Staley. “We do get a fair number of auto burglaries a year so if there’s anything we can follow up on, we will.”
Victoria Billings contributed to this article.
Without eternal vigilance, it could happen here.
We had our car broken into. We did not have anything within site, but having all of our son’s belongs covered may have encouraged the thieves. We took off our CalPoly car sticker thinking it would help. But the bike on the car was a giveaway. We brought the laptop into the hotel, and although all the items were riffled through we didn’t loose anything but had to pay 167.00 for a new window. A disturbing way to start for our first college experience. We would have paid another few dollars to pay for a security guard from 11pm to 6am for that one day when the lot was full to capacity with cars clearly full of belongs. The window company suggested we get our windows tinted. This deters break ins and the glass doesn’t shatter which experienced theives know about. We will not stay at La Cuesta Inn next year, too close to the frwy, an easy target. These theives clearly knew it was move in day.