Over the past two weeks, more people than usual have returned to their lockers at Johnson Center only to find their valuables gone, said Jim Todd, director of Recreational Services and Johnson Center, in a statement last week.
After becoming aware of four locker break-ins in the student men’s locker room of the rec center, the gym increased locker room patrols by students and professional staff, Todd said.
The center has also posted signs in the locker room that warn students of recent thefts and ask users to avoid storing valuables in their lockers and to report suspicious activity.
Other signs that discourage leaving valuables unattended have been posted throughout Johnson Center for many years.
Given that UNM is a large community, campus thefts generally vary in frequency, type and location, said UNMPD Lt. Tim Stump.
Theft at Johnson Center is not necessarily a new problem, and most locker thefts occur when items are not secure, Stump said. That being said, locks are occasionally cut, and lockers vandalized.
When asked whether Johnson Center has been facing an increase in theft, Stump said no.
“There might be an occasional increase, but (theft) will decrease once a suspect has been identified or arrested,” he said.
UNMPD data tells a different story, however. According to the department’s online crime log, the number of incidents of larceny at Johnson Center over the past two weeks (four) is equal to the total number from Aug. 1 to Sept. 8.
Patrick Sarson, a junior athletic training major, said he uses lockers at the rec center occasionally, and feels that to combat the rising number of thefts of personal property, users simply need to keep their belongings in a safe place and be aware of others.
Anyone at Johnson Center is responsible for their own items, because “there’s not much UNMPD can do,” he said.
After hearing of the increase in theft, Eddie Garcia, a senior exercise science major, said he will continue to carry his belongings with him rather than use a locker.
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Garcia said he encourages the idea of locker room patrols, and feels the rec center’s use of signage will increase individuals’ awareness and caution with their belongings.
According to University policy, UNM does not reimburse students for items stolen from University buildings.
Stump encouraged UNM students, faculty and staff to secure their belongings, use a lock when placing items in a locker, and report thefts in progress as well as suspicious individuals and activity to UNMPD or Johnson Center staff immediately.
“Thefts that (occur) in Johnson Center are unfortunate, and we realize the impact is often disastrous to the individual,” Todd said. “It is our hope that by increasing patrols and reducing opportunity for thieves, we can deter any future locker break-ins.”
Although UNMPD investigates and takes all reports of larceny seriously, some thefts are never resolved, due to a lack of evidence, witnesses, or both, Stump said.
“If we get an increase (in thefts) we focus on that area,” he said. “We want to (deter) the thefts and hopefully identify or apprehend a thief...Every theft we handle is investigated separately unless it leads us into a larger scale investigation. We, however, continually work with (Johnson Center) to help, and investigate the thefts we do receive.”
Elizabeth Sanchez is a news reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Beth_A_Sanchez.
