OKLAHOMA COMPUTER STOLEN FROM UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORThe Vista Online - University administrator becomes theft victimUniversity administrator becomes theft victim
by Ashley Romano - Senior staff writer

July 07, 2005

A university administrator became a victim of property theft June 23 when his university purchased computer was taken from his office.

UCO Executive Vice President Steve Kreidler’s Dell 8500 laptop, valued at $2500, was stolen around 5:19 p.m. from Rm. 210 in the Lillard Administration Building, UCO police said.

“This theft is my fault,” Kreidler said.

He said he left his office, which is visible from the second floor hallway, for five minutes, leaving his office door open and electronic equipment (i.e. laptop and iPod) unsecured and someone came in and popped the computer off of its cradle.

“I leave that door open because it’s my personal philosophy that people ought to feel like I’m approachable,” Kreidler said.

He said he even had glass inserted into his door so that when it’s closed people don’t feel like he is “hiding from the world.”

“Well, that worked against me this time,” Kreidler said.

Prior to the theft of Kreidler’s computer, a camera was stolen from another office in the Administration Building and an attempted theft of a laptop occurred in a first floor office in the building in early June.

Jeff Harp, director of the UCO Department of Public Safety, said the department is “not ignoring the possibility” that these crimes are linked.

He said DPS sent out a letter to the Administration Building faculty and staff asking for information about the location of Kreidler’s computer and the person (s) responsible for the theft.

In the attempted theft of the laptop, the suspect was described as a 5-foot-8-inch, 150 pound black male with short black hair. He is believed to be in his early 20s and was seen carrying a backpack, according to the DPS letter.

Harp said while office thefts are rare at UCO, they can happen.

“We have an incredibly low crime rate on this campus,” Harp said. “But it does not mean that we’re immune from this type of thing.”

As for preventions of property crimes, Harp recommends locking up personal property and backing up data.

Kreidler said he lost some UCO budgeting documents because he had not been backing up his data in the weeks prior to the theft.

Now, every time Kreidler leaves his office, he makes sure to shut and lock his door.

“It was a bone-headed thing to do,” Kreidler said. “I’ve learned a hard lesson.”

DPS urges anyone with information on the stolen laptop or on the person (s) responsible to contact the department at 974-2345 or call the Broncho Five-O crime tip line at 974-3483 to remain anonymous.