For many, the holiday season is a time for celebration and rejoicing, but for criminals, it can be a time of opportunity.

The Ames Police Department and the Department of Public Safety are teaming up in an effort to maintain their low number of break-ins during the holidays. Last year, no break-ins occurred over Iowa State’s vacation, said Officer Dave Peterson of the Department of Public Safety.

Tom Shelton, community resource officer with the Ames Police Department, said some crimes, such as house burglaries, occur more frequently during this time of year while others, such as alcohol violations, slightly decrease.

“With all the students leaving we do get a lot of break-ins, especially at the fraternity houses,” he said.

Peterson said officers work with the greek community to try and encourage them to take safety measures seriously. Even though there were no break-ins last year, he said they have occurred over past breaks.

“[Break-ins] all come in one shot, or we don’t get any at all,” he said.

Shelton said there are things people can do to avoid becoming victims, such as taking valuables home with them.

“If they’re going to break in, they won’t have anything of value to take,” he said.

Shelton also said enforcement by both the police department and DPS will be increased during the break in the greek community.

Director of DPS Loras Jaeger said that although things happen, he is not extremely concerned with the break-ins occurring this holiday.

“We’ve not had a problem in the last few years,” he said.

Jaeger said DPS mostly deals with frozen pipes because of the cold weather.

Capt. Gary Foster of the Story County Sheriff’s Office said his office doesn’t see much of a crime increase during the holidays.

“Overall, we don’t dread the holiday season because of a massive crime wave,” he said, adding trees are a commodity this time of year. “[A lot of] evergreen trees get cut down and stolen.”

Jaeger said alcohol violations, including public intoxication and operating while intoxicated, tend to decrease over the break because most ISU students are at home. He said New Year’s Eve is the only time alcohol violations tend to occur frequently.

“We are cognizant of that and watch out for that,” he said.

Foster said drinking over the holidays happens, but he doesn’t think it leads to much of an increase in violations.

“We know the holidays are a time to celebrate, and the celebrations often include alcohol,” he said. “We don’t want any tragedies this season — we would like people to be responsible if drinking.”