Fairfield Police are investigating an early-morning incident over the weekend at an off-campus beach house where several Fairfield students live. The incident, which has been publicized on Fizz and parent Facebook groups as a break-in, occurred on Fairfield Beach Road at around 4 a.m. when residents reported seeing an unknown person inside their home.
According to one of the students whose house was involved, all roommates were home when they felt their house was broken in, but no items were reported stolen. In an interview with The Mirror, the student said she is collaborating with the Fairfield PD in their investigation.
“The perpetrator has not been caught yet, but the police have assured us that it is an open and active investigation,” the student told The Mirror on the condition of anonymity, citing concerns for her personal safety.
The students contacted 911 shortly after the incident on Monday, Nov. 3 after confirming someone had been inside. They have since reinforced their home with additional security measures.
“The Fairfield Police are aware of the recent reports in the Fairfield Beach area,” said Fairfield PD Sargent Wellington while adding that the department is investigating the “incidents and the circumstances around them.” She urged residents to keep their homes secure and call the police department immediately if they see anything suspicious.
Meanwhile, the university has also acknowledged the off-campus incidents while also urging residents to report suspicious activity to the local police department.
“The University was recently informed of reported incidents in the beach area. The University is in close contact with the Fairfield Police Department (FPD),” said Dean Berger in an email sent to off-campus students obtained by The Mirror. “The FPD is investigating these incidents and asks for your cooperation during this process.”
Reports of multiple break-ins, while unconfirmed, have been described by senior students and parents at great lengths.
FUSA in an email sent school wide stated, “At this time, three safety-related incidents have been reported to the police, and one infraction has been issued. This infraction was the result of an individual mistaking his home. The seriousness and urgency with which the police are handling these cases were emphasized throughout the meeting.”
FUSA also told students that all reports are being acitvily investigated by a team of detectives and police presence in the off-campus beach area has been increased. Sharing that the officers are making it clear students safety is the forefront of their efforts.
The female student who talked with The Mirror recounted that the group first suspected something was wrong when two roommates believed they saw a dark figure in the home at separate times during the same night.
“Over the course of an hour, myself and another roommate believed we saw a dark figure in our home at two different times,” she said. “At first, we weren’t sure if we were tired and just seeing things.”
An hour later, one of the roommates awoke to find someone standing near another’s bed.
“I yelled at the perpetrator to leave the house and ran outside to get help,” she said. “After further discussion, it was determined that there was in fact someone in the house and that’s when we decided we needed to call 911.”
Although nothing was stolen from their home, the emotional toll has been lasting.
“We have all been very shaken up,” the student said. “We don’t feel comfortable being in the house alone or even with at least two other people present.”
The student said living in a beach house had been a lifelong goal at Fairfield, making the experience even harder to process.
“The first two months were incredible and something I’d looked forward to since freshman year,” she said. “But I don’t know when I’ll start to feel comfortable being in that area again.”
Even with the help from the police and the school, the student describes ongoing anxiety and hypervigilance since the break-in.
“My home doesn’t feel like my home,” she said. “I constantly need to keep my head on a swivel. Waking up in the middle of the night to find someone standing over my roommate is the most horrifying experience of my life.”
She said she hopes sharing her experience will raise awareness for other students living off campus.
