Second theft in residence hall calls for investigation

As freshman Patrick White slept in his Hinton James dorm room, a burglar entered his suite and stole several of his suitemates’ valuables.

“The dorm was left unlocked and (the burglar) just walked in,” White said. “I believe they were in the room asleep when it happened.”

The person took $163 worth of personal property from the room’s residents, according to the Department of Public Safety’s police blotter.

“They took a wallet and an iPhone,” White said.

“I didn’t hear anything, and I live right across the way.”

The theft marked the second burglary in a residence hall in late August. The first was in Craige North Residence Hall on Aug. 21, when $2,400 worth of personal property was taken, according to the DPS blotter. Both thefts are raising security concerns in residence halls.

Both burglaries were classified as non-forced entry, according to the website.

Now, there are signs with a suspect’s face posted around Hinton James and Craige North Residence Halls.

“The suspect in the picture is a person of interest,” DPS spokesman Randy Young said. “However, we’re not saying that this person was involved.”

Young declined to say how the department obtained the photograph.

“The picture is part of the investigation,” Young said.

“We’re not saying if it is a student or not a student.”

Young said he hopes the image on the flyer will elicit some help.

Larceny is the most common crime on campus, Young said.

He declined to release the nature of the evidence but said the situation needs investigation.

Rick Bradley, assistant director of the housing department, said he was not aware of the break-ins or thefts.

“I’m not aware of the specific incident,” Bradley said.

Kristi Stout, a freshman resident of nearby Craige Residence Hall, said she is curious to see how the thief was able to get into the residence hall in the first place.

“There’s obviously a flaw in security,” she said.

Contact the University Editor at university@dailytarheel.com.