A number of thefts occurred in University residence halls over spring break, primarily in first-year dorm Village C. Five different rooms in Village C reported stolen items to the Department of Public Safety, according to a list released by DPS for the period Feb. 28 to March 11. Additionally, one theft was reported in Village A and one in the Nevils complex.
There are no suspects in the investigations which involve both DPS and Metro, said DPS Director William Tucker.
Officers spend an “abnormal” amount of time patrolling the residence halls during breaks, according to Tucker. “We aggressively patrol and find multiple doors unlocked,” Tucker said.
In response to the thefts during break, Tucker said he will increase patrol in hallways during future breaks, and he plans to send out an e-mail to all students encouraging them to register their laptops with the University and secure all valuables during breaks.
A similar e-mail went out to students before spring break, and fliers with safety tips were also distributed. The e-mail and fliers suggested that students lock windows and doors and take home valuable items such as money, jewelry, laptops and CD players.
DPS has had little success with students registering their laptops, Tucker said. DPS will attach a security tag to students’ laptops to deter theft anytime during the year for $10.
“It’s hard to get students to do this,” Tucker said.
Students who reported missing items were not aware of any progress that DPS or MPD had made to recover their valuables.
“I feel that the school should take some responsibility,” John Cummings (CAS ‘05) said, who reported losing $3,500 worth of items, including a Playstation, CDs and DVDs.
Elisabeth Norton (CAS ‘05) said that an iBook was stolen from her room, but that two other laptops in the room had not been taken.
DPS and Metro determined that students’ locks were picked with a credit card, said Norton and Cummings. Norton said that her lock has not yet been fixed.
“I think it’s absurd that they can’t protect the dorms. It’s crazy … This is the University’s property and they can’t protect it,” Norton said.
