During late September and early October, a series of thefts occurred in the Maura commuter lounge. The lounge is located on the second floor of Maura Hall, and is a central hub at Seton Hill University (SHU) where many students gather. Commuters who do not wish to travel home between classes often go there to take naps, use the computers, do homework or watch television.
The thefts began on September 9 from an office in that area. The latest theft happened on October 12, and two thefts happened on October 6. According to SHU chief of campus police, Michael Dell, just cash had been stolen – no credit cards.
By Andrea Perkins,
Staff Writer
During late September and early October, a series of thefts occurred in the Maura commuter lounge. The lounge is located on the second floor of Maura Hall, and is a central hub at Seton Hill University (SHU) where many students gather. Commuters who do not wish to travel home between classes often go there to take naps, use the computers, do homework or watch television.
The thefts began on September 9 from an office in that area. The latest theft happened on October 12, and two thefts happened on October 6. According to SHU chief of campus police, Michael Dell, just cash had been stolen – no credit cards.
One student, Lisa Newman, a senior, had her wallet stolen out of her purse in the commuter lounge. Her wallet was stolen on October 12, and she ended up finding her wallet in the second floor Maura Hall women’s bathroom.
�I found my wallet in the bottom of the trash can. I decided that since somebody else’s wallet was found there too, I decided to look, and they just stole cash,� Newman said.
Dell confirmed reports of wallets being found in the second Maura bathroom.
�All the wallets have been found in the Maura bathroom, except one. So it’s a girl,� said Dell.
Newman recounted what happened to her when she was in the commuter lounge.
�I was on the computer, and my stuff was sitting on the couch five feet from me. I walked over to get a pen, and I saw a rubber band that was out of my purse and I went to put it away, and I saw a girl sitting right next to my stuff and she asked if I saw a mustard colored wallet. As I was zipping my purse up – when she said �wallet� I noticed that mine was gone,� said Newman.
Most of the thefts have followed this pattern.
�They leave their purse in the lounge and they go get a drink or print something and they just take the wallet and walk out,� said Dell.
Campus police have found a suspect and now they are working on tying it all together.
�To get to where we can say they did it is the hard part,� said Dell.
A freshman, April Walker said, �I think it’s pretty bad that stuff like that is happening. We pretty much trust everyone – and we�re okay with leaving our purses. I�ve heard some people of being asleep and having their stuff taken, and that’s pretty low.�
Students in the commuter lounge have taken to asking their friends or someone they know won’tsteal their things to watch after their belongings if he or she will be out.
�I haven’tchanged at all – every once in a while I think about it, but I know my stuff is okay if I ask someone to watch it,� said freshman Nikki Seloula, a freshman.
To attempt to prevent further thefts, campus police officers have been walking through that area more often.
�It’s tough to look at strangers – we put fliers up. We tell people don’tleave valuables unattended, and for people who have offices in that area, we�re telling them to lock offices before (they) leave,� said Dell.
As for residents, Dell suggests that students lock their doors when they leave the residence halls, and take valuables and important items with them, and not to leave them lying around.
�Get a lock box to lock up your valuables,� Dell recommended.
Dell said that theft isn’ta major problem on campus, but he also said that you can’thave this many people living together without theft.
Word of the thefts have been going around, especially after campus police’s red notice signs went up.
�Everybody’s been talking about it. It’s been a big deal,� Walker said.
�It bothers me that someone would do it – I guess it’s because we all trust each other so much, even though we don’treally know each other,� she added.
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