Laptop stolen from South Quad room
A South Quadrangle hall resident told police that his laptop was taken from his room while he slept Feb. 1. The student said he fell asleep around 3:30 a.m. and awoke four hours later when his roommate returned to the room. His roommate found their door ajar. There were no signs of forced entry.
Car stolen from U-M lot
A staff member told police that her 1999 Honda Civic was missing Feb. 8 from a U-M parking lot. She said she had parked the car that morning in lot SC35 between Keech and Hoover streets near the athletic campus. When she returned that evening, she could not locate the car.
Catalytic converters stolen from North Campus lots
Drivers of 16 vehicles have reported to University Police that the catalytic converters on their cars have been stolen while parked in North Campus lots. A catalytic converter is part of the vehicle’s exhaust system and often is easily accessed from underneath the car. Thieves can slide under the vehicles with a battery-operated saw and quickly remove the part. The converters contain precious metals and can be re-sold to metal recyclers and non-reputable mechanics.
The recent rash of thefts on campus appears to have occurred Feb. 16 and 25 from several lots in the Northwood Community Apartments. Several dozen similar reports were made with police in the city of Ann Arbor and Pittsfield Township.
Police, who have increased patrols in the area, encourage drivers to park near buildings or by a light, if possible. Residents also are encouraged to call 911 immediately if they hear suspicious noises or observe suspicious behavior.
Police remind to secure electronic devices
With the weather warming, outdoor thefts become more attractive to thieves. Be sure to secure electronic devices when you leave your vehicle — don’t leave them in view, police officials say. In the month of February, five people reported to university police that the passenger windows of their parked vehicles had been smashed out. In each case, the driver had left a GPS device visible from the outside and it had been taken during the incident. Additionally, the stolen GPS devices usually provide the thieves with the owners’ home addresses since those are programmed into the devices.
