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Volume CXXXIII, Number 10 |
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Crimes disturb the Pines
ALISON McCONNELL
ORIENT STAFF
Think that the good old "Bowdoin bubble" is as
safe and secure as it sounds? Guess again. Recent security reports show
that incidents of crime on campus have occured more frequently this year
than last, including the theft of many valuable student possessions.
This semester has seen 27 reports of lost or stolen items,
a figure that includes all incidents classified as thefts (including things
like the inadvertent dropping of wallets which are later recovered).
Five laptops and seven bicycles have been reported missing
this fall. Other items include medication, a surfboard, wallets, purses,
jackets, a Domino's Pizza sign, and a Snapple.
The 27 reports compare to the 16 that were filed by this
time last year. Assistant Director of Security Michael Brown said that
since 2001-2002 numbers are already higher, campus theft may be a noteworthy
problem: "I have seen enough to be concerned,"he said.
Three laptops were taken in 1999, and two last year. "We're
already looking at five this year; that's alarming," Brown said.
"By virtue of their portability, they're a real attractive target
for thieves. The increase in thefts is very disturbing."
According to Brown, there is no apparent link between the
laptop disappearances. "In one case it was from a public location,
another...through an open window [in Moore Hall], another was taken with
some other items from a vehicle," Brown said. "Thus far, we
haven't been able to draw a connection between the thefts."
After some collaborative detective work, Security was able
to recover one of the five stolen computers. Three male individuals, who
were described as in their mid- to late teens, are being interviewed in
connection with the theft. Two of the young men live in Brunswick, while
the other resides in Gardiner, where the computer was recovered.
Brown said that interviews with the three suspects may shed
some light on other incidents at the College. "They appear to be
connected with other thefts on campus," he said. "We're looking
at charges of larceny, accessory to larceny, and maybe...possession of
stolen property."
Bowdoin's security office now contains an investigative
unit, with new resources. "We now have the ability to lift latent
fingerprints and prepare composite sketches," Brown said.
When it was reported that three suspicious persons were
in the library, Security was able to use a student's description in its
hunt for suspects.
"We prepared a composite sketch of one of the individuals
with the information [provided by the student] and forwarded a copy to
the Brunswick Police Department, who recognized the individual and identified
the other people [involved]," he continued.
"In this case, it was the student's information that
helped us get the computer back. It was great team effort."
Security has hopes to locate the other stolen computers
as well. "We're still looking into the others; all four cases are
active and open," Brown said.
Another common problem on the Bowdoin campus is bicycle
theft. According to Brown, six have been reported as stolen this fall.
"We always have a certain number of bikes taken," he said. "We
have actually recovered three bikes in the last few days."
At this point last year, Security had received reports of
six bicycle thefts, a number identical to this year's figure.
Brown said that getting the Bowdoin Security ID sticker
is a helpful step toward protecting a bike. "If it's recovered, we
can get in touch with you much faster," he said. "There are
a certain number that are taken and not reported, so we encourage people
to file a report."
According to Brown, students should keep laptops and other
valuables in a secure location. If in fact students find their belongings
missing, or they see something suspicious, they should contact Security
(x3314). "I encourage students to contact us," Brown said. "If
something doesn't look right, give us a call."