Wave of Thefts Sweeps Campus During Passover Break

"Inside Job" Suspected; Security Probe Underway

Supply and demand are not foreign subjects to economics major Ariel Sloan. With just one month remaining before his graduation, he learned the hard way that excessive demand could lead to corruption. During Pesach vacation, a treasured two-week hiatus from the rigors of college, someone entered Sloan's locked room in Morgenstern Hall, sifted through his personal belongings, and lifted his laptop computer.

"I didn't have any second thoughts about leaving my computer in my locked room during break. When I returned from Atlanta and saw that it was missing, I couldn't believe it had happened to me. Can't I assume that my computer would be safe when no students were even on campus?" a sullen Sloan wondered.

Theft is all too frequent on college campuses, and YU students are not immune from this affliction. The Residence Handbook states that "Yeshiva University is not responsible for loss, damage, or theft of personal belongings." After all, the University can provide little practical assistance to victims other than investigating each theft thoroughly. But Sloan's situation is different, because while most other thefts occur at times when students are on campus, all students were restricted from accessing Morgenstern Hall during the break.

Sloan's case was only one of four in which laptops were stolen from dorm rooms during the Pesach vacation. In addition, at least five individuals have formally charged that their change collections, ranging form $3 to $35, were pilfered from their rooms. Collecting quarters may seem like a futile investment, but to dedicated thieves, collecting handfuls of change from charity boxes can translate into windfalls over the long run.

In fact, it seems as if the thieves left no stone unturned. "When I returned to my room after vacation I found $20 in change missing. It's a shame that we have to worry about keeping an eye on those people who are here to ensure the well-being of the students," YCSC President Dror Barber said.

The question of responsibility is one that has left student's unsatisfied with the University's response. The Security Office quickly informed the victims that the University is not, under any circumstances, liable for thefts. However, the victims were quick to point out the inherent fault in the school's policy. Since students had no access to their dormitories during vacation, and since YU employees were the only individuals allowed to enter into building (to perform fire and safety inspections under the authority of Security), the victims cannot be held accountable for their own losses.

University Risk Manager Paul Goldschmidt, however, asserted, "Personal property of students is something that YU is not insured for. Obviously a thief is liable for what he steals. Nevertheless, the homeowner's insurance policies that students' parents have often cover their property even away from the home. Students should be aware of such provisions."

This statement, though, was of little consequence to those who now have to busy themselves replacing and paying for lost items. In addition, student's dismissed the way in which the University deflected their inquiries as petulant, bringing little comfort to those searching for answers.

Although no solution exists to resolve this dilemma, an ideal first step would be the apprehension of those responsible for the thefts. An "intense" investigation was undertaken by Security immediately after the report of the thefts. While Chief of Security Donald Sommers will not release an official comment until the completion of the investigation, an inside source reported that a favorable conclusion to the case is near.

University protocols grant Security access to all dorm rooms in order to perform fire and safety inspections, with captains and lieutenants granted much of these responsibilities. The role of the searches includes turning off lights, closing windows, locking doors, and eliminating fire hazards. Precise records are maintained tracking those individuals who perform such inspections, as well as those who perform any necessary maintenance work in specific rooms.

However, it remains unclear whether anyone other than the appointed security guards entered locked dorm rooms during vacation. And that may be where the resolution to these crimes lies.

Sloan said, "I think that in order for YU to maintain its reputation as a school students feel safe attending, the administration must make sure that this type of inside job doesn't happen again. I never thought this could happen at YU; and now there is little I can do because the school says they are not liable for the actions of those who are given the keys to my room. The whole situation just doesn't seem fair."