Between the hours of 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Tuesday night, one or more intruders entered the Community Service Interest House, located at 406 Cypress St., and left with three backpacks containing various personal items. According to Associate Director of Security Craig McKinnon, the burglars came in through an unlocked back entrance and took three laptop computers, in addition to other belongings in the backpacks. The items were stolen from common areas on the first floor of the house.The Walla Walla police department confirmed that it received a report of the theft on Wednesday morning. McKinnon said officers are investigating.In an e-mail to the student body, Assistant to the Dean of Students Donna Cummins responded to the incident by expressing relief that it did not threaten students’ safety, as none of the residents were involved in any form of confrontation with the intruder or intruders. Residents of the house became aware of the break in and the fact that items were missing at around 8:30 the following morning.Campus Security was responsible for evaluating the situation and taking precautions to prevent a future break in, including changing the locks on the doors.”The house has been re-keyed, as some of the keys were also taken,” said McKinnon.The administration’s response to this incident also urged students to exercise caution, whether in ensuring that doors remain locked or that students promptly report suspicious persons or activities if spotted on campus.Cummins said her office sends out its “timely warning” emails to alert students about security risks in the wake of events like Wednesday’s break-in. This is the first time a warning has been issued this semester.”It is possible, since the perpetrator(s) obtained valuable items so easily, other on or near campus housing could be at risk,” Cummins cautioned in her e-mail.Residents of the Community Service House declined to comment in detail on the break-in, and expressed concern at the Pioneer’s inquiries into the matter. Sophomore resident Isabelle Lemly said the break in “makes you realize that you can’t always be in your little Whitman bubble.”Security presence throughout the Interest House Community (IHC) is being temporarily increased as a result of the robbery, said Resident Director Patrick Herman.”They will be doing extra patrols through the IHC for at least the next few nights, and any information we can give them will help,” he said. “This is a terrible experience, and I’m sorry that this happened to anybody in our community. What’s important now is to make sure nothing like this happens again.”