MICHIGAN (ADDITIONAL INFORMATION) ON COMPUTER THEFT ON THE RISE AT EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY Echo Online :: News :: Computer thefts on rise:

Computer thefts on rise
Five incidents since Jan. 29 raise doubts on campus

By Jessica Carlson / Senior Staff Writer
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2007

Computer thefts have been breaking out on Eastern Michigan University with five reported stolen since Jan. 29. Of the five computer thefts reported, four have been reported stolen from a locked or secured area. Over the previous week, this has raised doubts for some about the level of security at EMU.

Steve Krause, associate professor of English, language and literature, said he had his computer stolen last August from his locked office. He said he believes the theft was planned because his computer was locked down to his desk as well.

"I think whoever took the Mac Mini out of my office knew exactly where that computer was and they were prepared to steal it. The security cable that was used to leash the computer to my desk had been cut," Krause said. "That means that someone got into my office, presumably with a key, and they came with a cable cutter, presumably because they knew this was a tool they would need to get that computer out of my office."

But the real value lost, Krause said, isn't the computer itself, but the content on the computer.

"We did lose completely about two months of work of a graduate student who was helping us set up a wiki, we lost the writing program blog, and we lost a lot of work for a national journal my colleagues and I were editing," Krause said.

Krause said he understands the importance of backing content up on another computer. But the content being stolen isn't just work lost. Potentially, students' grades are on a computer used by a professor.

"If someone takes a faculty computer, then that thief potentially has a lot of fairly private information for a lot of different students," Krause said.

The recent thefts have gotten the attention of the department of public safety. Lieutenant Jeff Nesmith said DPS is investigating the thefts of computers.

"We're looking into how this could happen, but it's not prudent for us to share [theories of how computers could be stolen from locked areas]," Nesmith said. "We encourage everyone to secure any belongings, and to take care to lock rooms. We've seen dorm rooms that are unlocked [that a computer has been stolen from]."

Krause, however, has his theories about how this could be happening. On his emutalk.org blog, he said there is a rumor that a few years ago, a set of keys to the university went missing.

"I think these thefts are all connected, and that there is someone, or a small group of people, who have a pass key to Pray-Harrold. I think this person might have some kind of accomplice, but I don't know. And I think this person is basically on the 'inside,' because some of these thefts have been pretty brazen," Krause said.

If all of the thefts are connected, then whoever is conducting them must also have a pass key to Walton-Putnam Hall. Of the five reported thefts since Jan. 29, two of them were from Pray-Harrold and the other three were from Walton-Putnam Hall. One, however, was from an unlocked dorm room.

Nesmith emphasized that if something is stolen, a report needs to be made.

"We have no way of doing anything about it [if a report isn't made]," Nesmith said. "Our goal is to investigate the best we can."

Krause said when his computer was stolen, the department secretary filed a report, but no follow-up was ever made. He said he feels the police aren't taking additional security measures.

"I don't think the police are doing anything at all. There doesn't seem to be any additional security, for example." Krause said.

Krause also said additional security could include rekeying locks, setting security cameras, and increasing patrols. He said it's frustrating that none of this is being done.

"I guess what disappoints me the most about this is the complete lack of reaction from EMU. I just don't think campus security or the administration feels like this is an issue worth pursuing," Krause said. " I think the powers that be have done the calculations, and they figure it's cheaper for them to allow for some computers to go missing than it would be to do what they should be doing to help make things more secure."

Nesmith, however, said the police department takes all reports seriously and that in the meantime of the investigation, everyone should take the appropriate security measures to ensure none of their belongings arestolen.

Student Tracy Nedeau, 19 from Redford, said she is aware of the thefts occurring on campus and only occasionally brings her laptop to campus.

"I fear someone might take it," Nedeau said. "I feel that it is ridiculous how people take other people's belongings, but that will never change. You should take responsibility and lock up your stuff or take it with you and not hold the school responsible for you being irresponsible with your stuff."

Web-Blog Editor See related article from August 2006 on Stolen Servers and Computers at University. http://www.stevendkrause.com/academic/blog/?p=628