Thefts may be work of professional

More than $50,000 of equipment has disappeared from a Georgia College & State University construction site and campus authorities think it may be the work of a professional thief.

“We’ve never seen thefts of this magnitude at any construction site in the seven years that I’ve been working here,” GC&SU Public Safety Detective Robert Butler said.

According to Butler, Public Safety is currently investigating a number of thefts that have occurred at the Choate Construction Company site at West Campus. The series of thefts began in August and have occurred throughout the semester, most recently between Oct. 27 and Nov. 9. Choate has attempted to prevent further thefts by building a fence around the site.

Butler said he hopes to make an arrest in the case, but was unable to comment on suspects at this time.

Choate superintendent Cliff Odum said there have been three thefts. The most recent theft involved a Rammax, a trench roller valued at over $26,000.

“We probably lost about two days when all the small equipment was stolen,” Odum said.

While thefts might have put a delay on construction for a few days, Odum said the overall progress of the project was not compromised.

Odum said he has dealt with thefts at construction sites before, but said it is out of the ordinary for a site to be hit more than once.

“I’ve had two or three thefts at previous projects…but they usually hit one time and then they’re gone. That’s why it’s hard to say here if it’s the same person,” Odum said.

Other thefts around campus have drawn the attention of officials as well. A portion of the Coca-Cola logo lettering from the wall of Maxwell Student Union was reported missing on Nov. 10. The custom-design logo is valued at approximately $300. The case is currently under investigation, and there are no suspects at this time.

Detective Butler said the amount of vandalism and thefts this year on campus do not seem out of the ordinary.

“I think it [vandalism] comes in spurts. A college campus is going to have that type of vandalism no matter where you are. I think its just part of the territory,” Butler said.

Deputy Director Richard Goodson of Public Safety said he hopes the instillation of security cameras around campus will alleviate vandalism. Instillation of the cameras has already begun. The footage will be broadcast to and monitored by the Public Safety Department located at Miller Court.

Butler said the Coca-Cola sign theft and West Campus construction equipment thefts are not likely to be related.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Dec 3 2004. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry