---

BY ARIEL MARTINO

In print | March 20, 2008

Despite several high profile property thefts in heavily trafficked areas around campus such as McCabe Library and Essie Mae’s snack bar, Director of Public Safety Owen Redgrave said the crimes are not any more prevalent than in previous years. These new thefts follow a number of thefts that occurred in McCabe library.

The thefts range from a computer monitor, property of the college to a student’s backpack, full of textbooks and notes. While the increasing number of thefts surprised many students, Redgrave said the thefts were “not out of character for a library setting open to the public.”

In recent months, crime in other places around campus has been starting to attract more attention. While McCabe still leads in number of crimes, with 8 out of the 28 reported thefts between Sept. 1, 2007 and March 17, 2008, Tarble is close behind with five, and Parrish has had four. The other crimes have been in various locations around campus, including several dorms.

According to Redgrave, “Most, if not all, of the thefts were valuables that were unsecured and unattended.”

Redgrave cites several locations around campus where students can secure their valuables in lockers, including Lang Concert Hall, LPAC and a new set of lockers in Parrish. Both Seiden and Redgrave brought up the addition of lockers in McCabe, which will take place this summer. Redgrave also mentioned the possibility of installing additional lockers in Tarble, a proposal that is still under review.

Since the first string of crimes this year, the library staff has taken several preventative measures against what College Librarian Peggy Seiden calls “opportunistic property thefts.” Measures include posting signs warning about the recent thefts and additional laptop locks, which can be used on both library-owned laptops and on personal laptops.

Seiden hopes to “raise student awareness about possible thefts and their own personal responsibility to help deter thefts.”

In this spirit, the library staff has begun the “toilet papers” and the “if I were a thief” campaigns. In the latter campaign, staff put notes on desks where people had left valuable items like cell phones, laptops and purses unattended.

While the incidence of crime this year is statistically comparable to rates reported in previous years, Redgrave is still worried about the likelihood of future thefts by repeat offenders.

“Crime begets additional crime … a criminal who has been successful may return numerous times to the same location,” Redgrave said. He also worries about the violent escalation of property thefts, specifically when an individual is “caught in the act.”

In addition to crimes in public spaces, students have reported acts of larceny occurring in residence halls. While many thefts involve bathroom products like toothpaste, soap and shampoo, other, more serious crimes, including the theft of a laptop from Mertz, have also been reported.

Mertz RA Nicole Nfonoyim ‘08 expressed concern and tried to combat the increasing crimes with signs, e-mail and a hall meeting. She and her hallmates were "shocked at how quickly and mysteriously such a valuable object was stolen out of a person’s room."

Mertz has several issues with security including a perpetually propped lounge door, close proximity to Chester Road and a tradition of entering the dorm through windows.

“It’s not until you go to another larger college or university that you realize just how exposed Swarthmore is with its multiple open points of entry, lack of gates and other systems to regulate who is on the campus at any given time,” Nfonoyim said.

Nfonoyim also said that increased security may be beneficial for preserving a “sense of privacy and safety.”

The necessary measures to carry out this increase in security, which would possibly include an increased presence of public safety around campus, may be disconcerting to many students.

Redgrave said that the number of thefts has not risen enough in recent years to warrant additional safety measures.

He stressed personal responsibility and the importance of securing valuables.

However, these measures may prove unpopular. “Culturally, Swatties are accustomed to leaving doors open and belongings unattended,” Nfonoyim said.

---

« RETURN TO NEWS

« PREV ARTICLE | NEXT ARTICLE »