WESTWOOD (CBS) — Students at UCLA were on edge Thursday after reports of a security breach that allowed a burglar into the dorm room of an 18-year-old freshman.

KNX 1070′s John Brooks reports the encounter has served as a wake-up call for students who frequently leave the doors to their dorm room open.

The incident reportedly happened at the De Neve Fir dormitory around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday when the unidentified co-ed woke up to find a man staring at her and tugging at her blanket.

Another student who lives across the hall from the victim said the man also took $20 from a dresser and ran out when the girl’s roommate walked in.

Police believe the intruder gained access to the room through what’s known as “deadbolting”, where the deadbolt is used to prop the door open rather than lock it.

One student said it’s a common practice that is unlikely to go away even after the burglary.

“You really don’t think about it, you develop this strong relationship with your whole floor like a family, it’s a trust thing and usually nothing ever goes wrong,” he said.

Campus officials said they hope the incident will encourage incoming students to lock their doors ahnd windows and to always be aware of their surroundings.