One or more unidentified individuals are responsible for stealing four laptops from students studying in Bender Library between last Monday and Thursday.
The perpetrator stole two laptops Monday, one Wednesday and one Thursday. In each instance, the students only left their laptops unattended for a short period of time, according to University Librarian Bill Mayer.
He said he does not believe students are responsible for the thefts in the library.
"I would be surprised if it was a student," Mayer said.
Sean Morgan, a graduate student in the School of International Service, said he left his laptop on a table on the third floor of the Bender Library for two minutes while he walked to the bathroom. When he returned, his laptop was gone but the power adapter was still plugged into the wall, he said.
Morgan said he felt both angry and violated after his laptop was stolen. However, he said he has previously walked away from his laptop in the library for much longer periods of time and never had any trouble.
"People need to realize that it's not that hard to walk off with your stuff," he said.
After he discovered his laptop was missing, Morgan said he looked and asked around the third floor to see if anyone saw what happened, and then he immediately went down to the information desk on the first floor to report the theft.
Morgan said he had a backup of much of his data. There is a good chance the computer may be protected under his insurance, he said.
Public Safety Chief Michael McNair released a statement to The Eagle in which he said the department is working with the library and the Student Government to prevent these types of occurrences from happening.
"Public Safety regrets that these incidents have occurred," he said in the statement. "We have provided alerts in the library to warn library patrons of the potential thefts."
Student Government President Seth Cutter said the SG, Public Safety and library administration are looking at convenient, cost-effective ways to decrease theft in the library. However, ideas are still being considered for the best way to ensure the protection of students' property, according to Cutter.
However, Mayer said he is not interested in creating a "police state" within the library with workers or Public Safety officers walking through the aisles. He said he would rather have students feel comfortable in the library and maintain its welcoming environment.
"Our haven is under assault, and it makes me mad," Mayer said.
There are places for students to use cables to lock their laptops, should they need to leave for any amount of time, Mayer said.
Still, Morgan said he would have been more mindful of his property had there been more signs or notifications posted about the thefts.
"If it takes four in a week to do that, then why wasn't it put up after the first?" Morgan said.
Public Safety will announce a plan sometime this week, which will counter the incidents that took place last week, according to McNair.
You can reach this staff writer at jcalantone@theeagleonline.com.
