Laptops, Speakers and X-Box Missing from Haley Hall

By Ashonda Bethea-Ruth

Three students living in the Haley residence hall reported that their personal electronics were taken from their rooms on in the evening hours of April 12.

            BSU sophomore Yasmeen Marino said she returned to her room about 10:30 p.m. when she discovered that her laptop, laptop case, school notebook, and other miscellaneous items were missing. After a thorough search of her room, she said she reported the theft to BSU campus police.

After Marino realized her possessions were missing, her roommate soon came back to campus and found that her laptop and speakers were also missing, Marino said. Both students said they locked the door when they left the room about 7 p.m. There was also no visible sign of forced entry.

To enter a suite in Haley, one must have a key. Once in the suite, an individual must also have a key to enter the room. A resident assistant, who was at the desk at the time the thefts may have occurred, told The Spectrum that he had not seen anyone leaving with personal electronics.

Campus police officers investigating the thefts said they were looking for any key witnesses who may have seen the thief or thieves, but had very few leads.

Marino said she and her roommate weren't the only ones whose belongings were stolen. The women said that a male student who also lives in Haley said his laptop, X-Box 360 and sneakers were stolen.

            Resident assistant Jamal Barbari said that the security is more strict when it comes to RA's checking ID's to make sure that whoever enters a residence hall actually lives there.

"I think it's ridiculous," Barbari said. "This is college. We aren't here to steal people's property, especially items that ensure our success such as laptops. It's bad enough we live in a recession and the general public is struggling, we don't need to have items stolen that people have worked hard to get ... by inconsiderate and disrespectful people."

            Marino said she doesn't understand how someone could come into Haley, take three laptops, big speakers, and an X-Box and not be seen by anyone.

            "I just want my things back," Marino said. "I think it's very disrespectful to steal people's belongings. It's not yours, so don't take it. I wish the person who took our things would just hand them back it, but unfortunately I know that's not the world we live in."