NEW YORK COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM LAB AT ITHACA COLLEGE October 20, 2005 - Two computers stolen from Friends labTwo computers stolen from Friends lab
By Liz Getman / staff Writer
October 20, 2005
Two Apple computers were reported stolen at 4 a.m. last Friday from the Friends Computer Lab, said Investigator Thomas Dunn.A college custodian found the lab computers missing while on duty and immediately called Public Safety, Dunn said. Because the student lab attendants worked at the lab until 10 the previous night, the perpetrator had a six-hour period of accessibility, Dunn said.
Ed Fuller, director of information technology services, said the lab computers are attached to the table with strong cables.
“It could only be cut with a serious bolt cutter,” Fuller said.
Dunn said the computer retention cords had been cut by some kind of instrument.
The computers were white Apple iMacs, worth about $1,200 each, and the keyboard and mouse were left behind. Dunn said specifics of the case could not be released because it is still an open investigation. He said for similar incidents, police obtain the serial numbers and other identifying aspects of the computers and then put that information through the Ethernet network. Then the offender can be located if the computer is used on campus. The serial numbers will also be stored in the New York state system.
“If a police officer happens to find someone with a suspicious computer, the officer can run the serial numbers through their computer system, and it will be matched as stolen,” Dunn said.
The Friends lab is open to students 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the door was open when the custodian entered to find the computers missing.
“Luckily, this case is fairly rare for this campus,” Fuller said. “But we will look into applying additional security. The lab will definitely continue to stay open 24 hours for students, but if this continues to happen, we may need to cultivate a new plan.”
Dunn said Information Technology Services has the right to criminal prosecution, but he suspects they will just want their equipment back. Student offenders will most likely get judicially referred, but if another police group arrests the students, they will be charged in court.
“I suggest that if the student wants to come clean or made a mistake, they should come to Public Safety and we may be able to work with ITS,” Dunn said.
Junior Orlin Vladikov, a Friends Lab attendant, said attendants are in charge of enforcing lab policies and monitoring printing and hardware usage. He said they are not provided with instructions on how to handle situations like this one because they are so out of the ordinary.
According to the Public Safety Incident Log, there have been at least five incidents of stolen computer equipment from labs in the past four years.Any information about the incident should be reported to Public Safety at 274-3333.