Thefts of unattended belongings on the U-M campus significantly have increased in the first three months of 2012 compared with 2011. The Department of Public Safety reminds students, faculty and staff to secure their valuables at all times.
“We’ve had a significant increase in larceny reports in 2012,” says Interim Police Chief Joe Piersante. “We have made a number of arrests of career criminals who have targeted our community. But we still have predators around.”
From Jan. 1 to March 31, DPS received 190 reports of larcenies, a 32 percent increase from 144 reported in the same time period in 2011. Larcenies usually are thefts of unattended belongings. Of the 190 larcenies this year, 38 laptops and 27 cell phones were reported stolen.
Markets exist for stolen goods. “We know that stolen laptops can be traded for heroin, cocaine and other drugs,” Piersante says.
Anyone with information about these crimes or who sees suspicious activity in classroom buildings is asked to call 911 immediately or text DPS at 377911.
