CALIFORNIA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM CHICO STATE UNIVERSITYThe Orion Online - Security increases to prevent future thefts
Security increases to prevent future thefts
Darcy Shepard
Staff Writer
February 04, 2005

Chico State is taking preventive measures to ensure another computer equipment burglary can be avoided.

A series of burglaries of campus property between October and December had campus police looking for one thief, but they aren't sure if the most recent thefts were committed by the same person.

Faculty, staff and administrators are cooperating with police to pump up security.

Robyn Hearne, investigations sergeant for campus police, said officers will be doing more walking, less driving and a close watch of inside facilities.

"We're a 24/7 campus, so we've got students who need to use the labs," Hearne said. "We want to accommodate that."

They are also looking at who was in the buildings around the time the equipment was stolen, she said. They are reviewing video tapes from security cameras on campus.

While the police do not know if the recent thief had a key to any of the buildings, Facilities Management Director Glennda Morse said they have installed new locks on the doors of Siskiyou Hall.

She said it appears several of the thefts in the building didn't involve breaking in.

"I think someone found a vulnerability in the university," Morse said. "But there are a lot of tasks being taken on by different departments to ensure better security."

Many buildings on campus contain department and program offices, and many buildings have computer labs.

Upward Bound's main office in Siskiyou Hall lost two computers recently, which cost $3,000 to replace, said Dave Ferguson, program director. Before that a server was stolen from their computer lab.

Since December O'Connell Technology Center reported five stolen flat-screen computer monitors from classrooms and computer labs.

Each monitor was worth about $500, said Ken Derucher, dean of the college of engineering, computer science and technology.

"There are a number of ways to get into the rooms, but we probably left the doors open," Derucher said.

They haven't changed lab hours or put new restrictions on equipment use, he said.

"We had enough in storage that we could replace [the stolen monitors]," Derucher said. "It hasn't affected the students, at least from a computer point of view."

The college is also taking preventive measures in hopes of thwarting another theft.

"We basically let the students be aware of the problem," Derucher said. "Classrooms are locked when not in use. Those of us working late at night will make a round before we leave, and the janitors help tremendously by locking doors if they're left open."

Darcy Shepard can be reached at dshepard@orion-online.net