Crime wave sweeping Cabrini campus

by ChrisNielsen perspectiveseditor

The past few weeks have seen a dramatic uprise in thefts and vandalism on Cabrini's campus. The crimes have ranged from car breakins to stolen laptops to damaged art projects.

Many of the thefts on campus have occurred behind locked doors, leading many to believe that the perpetrator or perpetrators have a master key to the school.

'Iwo laptop computers have recently been stolen from the Biology suite in Founders Hall. The thefts both occurred three weeks ago. According to Dr. Sheryl Fuller-Espie, professor of biology, one computer was stolen during class time, and the department then asked Public Safety for the locks to be changed. Another laptop was stolen late at night 'The locks weren't changed in time," said Fuller Espie.

Also stolen from the Biology department in the sameweek were a VCR and Dr. Fuller-Espie's power cord to her computer. 'The VCR was in a closet, which also suggests a master key," said Fuller Espie.

There have been other incidents of theft from biology department faculty members. Dr. Janet Kumar, professor of biology, had a computer stolen earlier this semester. She then proceeded to borrow a VCR from Mary Budzilowicz, Director of Instructional Support, which was stolen from a similar spot a few weeks ago. "We have since had our office re-keyed, and it is no longer on a master key," said Budzilowicz.

The crime wave is not limited to college property. On Monday, November 8 , there were four car break-ins in the Dixon Center Parking lot. One of the cars broken into belonged to Dr. Jerome Zurek, chair of the English/Communication department. Zurek admits that he left his car unlocked.

''A tape deck and small briefcase were removed from my car. 1be briefcase was found the next day in a medical examiner's office in Delaware. They also got my credit card number off of a receipt and bought $1500 worth of jewelry from a company in Florida," Zurek said.

Upon discovering the thefts, Zurek contacted Public Safety, who told him that be should contact the Radnor Police Department, since the stolen goods were his private property. Also broken into were the vehicles of freshman Dan Sirhal, a commuter, and Michael Demarest, a resident of Xavier Hall who had his car stereo stolen. Junior Katie Vallone also had 30 CDs stolen from her room in Sullivan House.

According to Corporal Kevin Gallagher of the Radnor Police Department, the police have no records of any of the recent thefts on Cabrini's campus.

There has also been recent damage to art projects in Room 4 of the Holy Spirit Library. 'There was a clay head, and someone put horns on it and an exacto knife through the bead," said Lisa Lerner, professor of fine arts.

As of the time of print, Public Safety refused to comment on the situation.

''We don't have a good security system. We're just throwing money down the drain," said Fuller Espie.