Protecting Against Theft of Credit Cards
Articles / Online
Date: November13, 2007  

Ryan Murray, Staff Reporter

On Oct. 30 an unknown female entered building 97, the Alumni Visitors Center with one intention, theft. The female approached the front desk clerk and used what is called a ruse or a trick to get the individual to leave the room. At this time the suspect had enough time to steal the individual’s wallet and the credit cards inside. When the clerk returned the suspect once again used a ruse to get the clerk out of the room so that she could return the wallet before the clerk took notice and canceled her credit cards.

On the same day two more thefts took place from a suspect using the same MO or method of operation as the first crime, leading officers to believe they were all committed by the same suspect.

“These types of crimes are called crimes of opportunity and happen to be the most common of all on campus,” said Lieutenant Earl Lawson of the University Police Department (UPD).

According to the UPD the most common routine for a credit card thief after stealing a card is taking it to a gas station, filling up only one dollar worth of gas to ensure the card is active and then spending hundreds even thousands of dollars at various locations.

The openness of our campus gives criminals the opportunity to easily maneuver from building to building without looking suspicious, giving them the prime chance to look for unattended property that can be easily taken.

Officer David Snell of the UPD, in charge of the investigation of the credit card theft, offered tips to students to help make themselves less vulnerable to being a target of theft. “First and foremost students need to take the time to secure their personal items in all places,” said Snell. Students who took the extra time to ensure their personal property were safe, enabled them to remain theft free and secure.

“The campus community is the eyes and ears. Everyone should look out for one another,” said Lawson. The UPD believes that a key factor in keeping this campus secure is to report any suspicious persons or behavior immediately to the police.

Snell continued, “If someone asks themselves if they should call the police, the answer is yes.”

Instinct plays a huge role in keeping both the campus and the individuals on campus safe. It allowed students the chance to play a role in the community that purely benefited the people around the area.