The past two weeks have seen a series of thefts on the 'Street,' with eating clubs reporting that several backpacks and at least one wallet have been stolen.
At least three club presidents have sent emails to their members warning them about the thefts and encouraging members to watch for nonmembers, guests and anyone suspicious in the building.
"It would appear that someone was grabbing bags, taking anything valuable in them and then dropping them off and picking up another," Cloister Inn President Andrew Jarrett '03 said in an email to the 'Prince.' "Public Safety and Borough Police have been informed."
Borough Police Capt. Anthony Federico said the past few weeks have been about average, with "three or four" items stolen during each week.
Public Safety Crime Prevention Specialist Barry Weiser, speaking through a dispatcher, said the thefts at clubs was within the jurisdiction of Borough Police.
Federico said these items are "probably easy pickings for people who are thieves."
"There's a large crowd and property that is being left unattended. I would imagine it is just a crime of opportunity," he said.
Christy Sander '03 was among several victims of the thefts.
On Oct. 5, Sander went out to Cloister, where she is a member, and left her sweater and wallet in the coat room. When she returned 45 minutes later, the sweater remained but the wallet was gone, she said.
Inside the wallet were several hundred dollars in cash and checks that she had received as birthday gifts during the preceding days. It also contained her ATM check card and several forms of identification.
"It couldn't have been worse timing," said Sander, whose birthday had been the day before.
By the next morning, the thief had exhausted the funds in her bank account, she said.
She also said a friend had seen a check made out to her lying on the front lawn of the Cap and Gown Club.
When Sander went to Cap the next morning, she discovered a receipt that had been in her wallet.
In addition to Sander's wallet, club presidents said two backpacks were stolen from Cloister, the Quadrangle Club and the Colonial Club.
Sander said she has also had two bicycles stolen during her four years on campus.
"There is a definite false sense of security here," Sander said. "Because you know everyone's names you don't think you are going to get violated, but it happens."
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