Home is usually a place of comfort and safety, but this holiday season some Columbia residents feel otherwise.

While MU student Stevie Wilson was out of town over Thanksgiving break, uninvited guests entered her East Campus home through a bedroom window.

"I want to sleep with a bat underneath my bed in case they come in through the window again," Wilson said.

The intruders stole a big screen TV, laptop, and DVD's among other things.

Burgularies aren't limited to just students. In fact, burglary is the only crime in Columbia that has increased since 2007, and it's well above the national average.

"We find if people are not working and there are not jobs out there, there tends to be more robberies and burglaries," said Sergent Ken Hammond from the Columbia Police Department.

"You just kind of trust things until something bad happens, and when something bad happens all the trust goes out the window," Wilson said.

Wilson's neighbors were also victims of a burglary.

"A fence only keeps an honest man out," said burglary victim Aaron Schaal. "Anyone can break into your house."

"It's not like I was scared to be here by anymeans, it's just that afterwards it didn't feel the same," burglary victim Nick Holman said. "I didn't want to be in the house."

Now, all the victimized tenants search Craig'sList and hope to find their stolen belongings.

Columbia police say it is important to always lock all your doors and windows and know your neighbors so you will notice if something looks suspicious.