ALABAMA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA Computers stolen at various - News:
Computers stolen at various
Derek Bagley

Senior Reporter
Issue date: 2/5/07 Section: News


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In January, an unknown number of persons stole three computers and parts out of several other computers from buildings across the University of South Alabama campus.
According to USA police, two computers were stolen from the Humanities building, and one computer and the RAM memory chips from other computers were stolen from the Life Sciences building between Jan. 16 and Jan. 24.
At this point, USA police said they have not identified any suspects, but an investigation is underway.
USA police said the thefts fall under the category of larceny, as the buildings from which the thefts occurred were not locked. Larceny differs from burglary in that the former does not require that the suspect use force to enter an area such as a classroom.
"We're not sure when it took place," USA Police Chief Normand Gamache said, "whether it took place during normal business hours or after the building was closed. According to the people who made the complaints, those buildings were not secured all the time."
USA Detective Johnny Noel said they don't have many details at this point, but sees this recent wave of thefts as another symptom of a "rash" of property thefts at the University.
"In most cases," Noel said, "[the thefts] are taking place after hours, and they're coming from unlocked offices and classrooms."
Many computers on campus are tagged as University property, but Noel said he sees the property stolen as a way to pay for a dependency that the suspect may have.
"We're not sure if all the [stolen] items [are identified as University property]," Noel said. "They probably should be. But from my experience, it would be nothing for somebody who has a dependency on alcohol or drugs, whatever their vice is, to just pop [the identification] off and be brash enough to take them to a pawn shop."
Noel also said that not all stolen property ends up in pawn shops, but it just becomes the property of the thief, or the computers could become currency for drugs or other black market items.
"It could end up as a private sale from one addict to another addict," he said, "or [they could] trade a laptop for a controlled substance."
USA police said they are working hard to identify a suspect, but for now, they offered some advice for people whose property could be targeted next.
"The only thing we can do so far is remind everyone to be vigilant," Noel said, "to lock their offices and classrooms, even if only for a short period of time. Take valuables with you and record important serial numbers of valuable equipment such as laptops and stuff like that."