The University Record, October 21, 1998
Police Beat
By Rebecca A. Doyle
Rash of bicycle thefts reported
On Oct. 12, four bicycle thefts were reported at two campus locations—two from the 1500 block of Washington Heights and two from the 700 block of East University. Capt. James Smiley, Department of Public Safety (DPS), urges all bicycle owners to carefully lock their bikes to a rack and take the time to register them with the city of Ann Arbor. It is often extremely difficult to recover stolen bicycles, but if one is found, he notes, it can be more easily claimed if the owner has recorded the serial number, make and type of bicycle.
Meteorite case pending in federal court
The FBI has indicted the man who is accused of stealing a meteorite from the Exhibit Museum. The man was arrested Oct. 1 and charged with transporting stolen property over state lines, a federal offense. DPS officers say he sold the meteorite to a dealer in New York after taking it from the museum. Museum personnel traced the meteorite to the dealer through the Internet and police followed the trail back to the suspect. The case is pending in federal court in Ann Arbor.
Alleged stalker arrested
DPS officers arrested a 21-year-old male U-M-Dearborn student on Sept. 30 on a charge of aggravated stalking, a felony punishable by up to four years in prison. He is accused of stalking an acquaintance who lived in South Quadrangle Residence Hall. He is in jail pending an Oct. 21 preliminary trial in 15th District Court.
Two women arrested on separate fraud allegations
Two women who were contract employees at the University have been arrested on charges of obtaining money over $100 under false pretenses, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The Institute for Social Research (ISR) noted discrepancies between the time the contractor billed and the time the employee was at work and reported inappropriate pay compensation, which they say first occurred in February. On Oct. 6, the woman was arrested and charged. She is currently out on bond, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for today in 15th District Court.
The School of Business Administration reported that from the end of October 1997 through February 1998, another contract employee similarly adjusted her time reports to receive more pay. She was arrested Sept. 15 and charged with obtaining money over $100 under false pretenses. At a Sept. 23 preliminary trial, she pled guilty to the reduced charge of misdemeanor and agreed to make partial restitution.
DPS investigates indecent exposure
In late September and early this month, DPS officers were notified that a man was exposing himself in and around the Graduate Library. Officers investigated the complaints and began to focus their efforts on a 20-year-old student. The case is still under investigation.
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