DBK Crime

University Police detectives are searching for three people of interest in connection with multiple thefts in North Campus dorms, according to a news release.

On the mornings of Jan. 30 and Friday, police officers responded to a string of thefts inside Centreville, Cumberland and Denton halls.

University Police spokeswoman Rosanne Hoaas said detectives cannot confirm if the cases are connected.  

At about 9 a.m. on Jan. 30, Kyle DeLancey, a freshman computer science major, said he woke up in his Denton Hall room and saw a man standing at his desk.

DeLancey said he addressed the suspect, who responded by asking whether a “Danny” was in the room. DeLancey noticed his own wallet on the ground and asked the individual to give money back.

The suspect eventually returned DeLancey’s cash and left the room. 

Before the incident, DeLancey said he was relaxed about locking his door but he is now more conscientious, though he said the suspect never threatened him and he felt the man “wasn’t a bad person.”

“Even if I am in the room, or whatever, I just lock the door,” he said. “Just in case, like, I decide to fall asleep.”

On Friday, in Cumberland Hall, Warren Griffiths, a freshman anthropology and English major, woke up missing $50 but assumed he must have lost it in the past couple of days. After lunch, Griffiths said he talked to other students in the hall and realized others were missing money and other items, too.

Another resident on the same floor, freshman criminology and criminal justice and English major Brian Frosti, woke up late that morning and was missing $200 and a watch.

After telling his parents about the incident, Frosti said his mother was worried because she already had concerns about crime incidents in College Park.

Frosti said he was also sleeping while a suspect entered the room; if the suspect had violent intentions, “we’d all be dead.”

“On that note, we’re handling it surprisingly well,” he said.

In response to the string of thefts across North Campus, Resident Life Associate Director Amy Martin said the department has sent emails and posted fliers to remind students of the importance of locking doors and preventing tailgating.

Students need to work with Resident Life to ensure that the processes in place, such as the triple barrier access into the halls, work.

“We want everyone to feel as safe as they can,” Martin said.