‘Tis the season for vampires, ghouls and apparently, an NCC laundry room larcenist. While some students are anticipating the spooks and thrills that accompany the Halloween season, others have a very different fear: having their personal items stolen.
On Sept. 30, Campus Safety issued a statement addressing multiple reports of stolen women’s undergarments. The thefts allegedly occurred within NCC laundry rooms. While the email mentioned that students reported thefts in Patterson Hall and Residence Hall/Recreation Center, it also listed resources for those living in New Hall who witness suspicious activity.
Now, after a month of silence from NCC, students still have questions. Is the thief active? Does Campus Safety have any leads as to said thief’s motive? Ashley Klco, Director of Campus Security, answered some of these questions in hopes of keeping community members informed.
Searching for clues
Klco confirmed that there is an ongoing investigation centered around the thefts. While she stated that it is too early to determine the motivation behind the crimes, recent information regarding dates of incidents is available online. In the meantime, Klco also provided tips for those who utilize laundry rooms on campus.
“(Students can) protect their belongings by setting a timer for the length of time on the laundry cycle and (responding) promptly to retrieve their belongings once the cycle is complete,” said Klco.
Students’ fear of theft
While the laundry room thefts no longer seem to be at the forefront of most students’ minds, the lingering concern of having their items stolen remains. New Hall resident Savannah Simboli, ‘24, indicated that she still feels uneasy.
“Every time I do my laundry (I worry about potential thefts),” said Simboli.
As long as the case of the laundry room larcenist remains open, NCC encourages students to exercise caution in campus laundry rooms and report unusual activity.
“We encourage all community members to be aware of (their) surroundings and report suspicious behavior to Campus Safety at 630-637-5911,” said Klco.
Resources
In addition to calling Campus Safety, they may reach out to: 630-637-5858, New Hall, Lower Level; 630-637-7766, Patterson & Ward Area Hall Director; and 630-637-5914, Residence Hall/Recreation Center Area Hall Director
