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The Observer

Case Western Reserve University's independent student news source

The Observer

Case Western Reserve University's independent student news source

The Observer

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On the Beat

The Department of Homeland Security has been running an advertising campaign for a while now labeled: “See something, say something.“ While its focus is clearly to get people to call in activity that may be related to terrorism, the same principle does apply here at Case Western Reserve University.

In any community, campus or otherwise, the general population always outnumbers the police, and the police are always dependent upon the population to serve as their eyes and ears and help focus police attention where it needs to be.

Recently we have experienced the theft of artwork from the Thwing Center and the theft of items from study rooms at the North Residential Village. If you should happen to be anywhere on the campus and you observe things that look out of the ordinary, like people taking artwork off the walls or someone taking a backpack that does not look like the person who put it down, keep the following ideas in mind:

You do not have to do your best Captain America impersonation and confront someone yourself. Call 216-368-3333 and briefly describe where you are and what you see.

Do not be shy about calling. If the guy taking the painting off the wall actually is with maintenance, he will be happy to tell us so when we arrive. If not, your call may have helped stop a crime in progress. Better to call than not.

Call or contact the police department as soon as you feel it is safe to do so. Do not wait. Thieves like to work fast, so the sooner we are made aware of potential activity, the better chance we have to stop it.

The Case Western Reserve University Police Department has made a number of good arrests over the years for everything from robbery to bike theft, based on timely student and staff calls about activity on campus.

Calling the police department does not put you into some sort of master snitch database. Instead, it shows that you care enough about the campus community to take action to help keep it safe.

 

CWRU Police Blotter 10/1/12 to 10/8/12

10/1 – Painting taken off wall between 9/28 and 10/1, felony theft, Thwing Center

10/3 – Bike taken from bike storage room between 10/2 and 10/3, bicycle theft, Storrs House

10/5 – Items taken from study room between 11:40 p.m. and 11:55 p.m., felony theft, North Residential Village House 3

10/7 – Items taken from study room between 4 p.m. and 4:15 p.m., petty theft, North Residential Village House 2

Under Ohio law, felony theft is defined as the theft of anything over $1000 in value. Petty theft is defined as the theft of anything under $1000 in value.

Contact On the Beat at policecolumn@case.edu

 

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