The University Record, December 17, 1996
POLICE BEAT
By Rebecca A. Doyle
DPS arrests one
for embezzlement
DPS officers arrested an employee at a fast-food restaurant in the Michigan League after a call from another worker at the establishment reporting more than $500 missing from the nightly register count. The employee, who is not affiliated with the University, was charged with embezzlement over $100, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in jail. The suspect is lodged in the Washtenaw County Jail in lieu of a $2,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 18.
Larcenies from automobiles still a problem
University police took into custody three juveniles and one adult in connection with several reports of vandalism and theft from automobiles in the North Campus area. On Nov. 16, the young men were seen breaking into a car and ran from Hospitals security officers. The four were later apprehended by DPS officers, and one admitted to participating in several other break-ins that night. The adult male has been charged with two counts of breaking and entering with damage and one count of malicious damage of property. None of the four are affiliated with the University.
Capt. James Smiley reports that there have been many incidents, especially in the North Campus area, and that faculty, staff and students should be sure to lock their cars, use protective devices if they have them, and be sure to take keys and not leave valuables lying on seats or in clear view.
Man arrested for
parole violation, larceny
A man not affiliated with the University was observed by a witness at the Shapiro Undergraduate Library on Nov. 11 going through a backpack that did not belong to him. DPS responded to the emergency call and retrieved a suede leather jacket and cash. They also found that the suspect was on parole and charged him with two counts of larceny from a building and with possession of stolen property and violating parole.
At a Dec. 4 preliminary hearing, he was bound over for trial and currently is in jail pending arraignment in Washtenaw County Circuit Court.
Computer thieves at work
Several Zip drives, small data storage drives that use tape to store compressed information, were reported missing from the Art and Architecture Building on Dec. 5. The drives, worth a total of nearly $1,500, were taken Nov. 12.
Over the weekend of Nov. 9-11, three hard drives were taken from the Student Activities Building. The drives are valued at more than $12,500.
DPS officers remind anyone who might have been in the area during the time the equipment disappeared to call DPS at 763-3434 or to call the Confidential Assistance Network (CAN) at 1-800-863-1355 to anonymously report theft, vandalism or arson of University property. Callers can receive up to $500 for information that leads to the recovery of stolen goods or arrest of the perpetrator.
Take it home for the holidays
Students, faculty and staff who will be out of their rooms or offices over the holiday break should take a last look around to make sure they have not left money, jewelry, watches, expensive equipment or cameras. Close and lock doors and windows, know where your keys are, engrave all electronic equipment that will be left behind and don’t leave your answering machine on saying you will be gone, cautions Smiley.
Each year, there are a few times when DPS, which makes normal building checks during the holiday period, finds that someone has left in a hurry and forgotten one or more of the safety precautions that are common sense.
“While almost everyone else is gone, we will still be here doing routine building checks,” Smiley notes.
