DCS nabs wallet thief
Last Thursday, the Department of Campus Safety (DCS) caught a man suspected of stealing at least five wallets from the Ritchie Center throughout the past two weeks.
According to DCS Officer Stephen Banet, the man was approached by DCS after they were called by someone who recognized the man in the Ritchie Center.
“An observant patron called us Thursday afternoon and said ‘I think this guy is here,’” said Banet.
Banet said the Denver Police Department (DPD) arrived at the scene and arrested the suspect, who they said had a number of warrants out for his arrest for several cases of burglary and credit card failures.
The crime chain is similar to a similar spree last year, in which a man was arrested after stealing numerous wallets from the storage cubbies in the Coors Fitness Center, the same place this person was stealing wallets.
“They are using the cubbies that can’t be secured,” Banet said. “This guy was only taking wallets, but in the past,+ IDs, phones and other valuables have been taken.”
He suggests visitors to the Coors Fitness Center and the Ritchie Center purchase the use of a locker.
“It’s a lot better. It’s more inconvenient, but if you get your stuff stolen, how inconvenient is that?” said Banet.
Student forcibly fondled
The Department of Campus Safety (DCS) issued a crime alert Saturday to university staff, students and faculty that a student was forcibly fondled while walking on Evans Avenue early Saturday morning.
According to the notice, the student was approached by an unknown male, who forcibly fondled her before running away between South Josephine and South Columbine streets.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male with short dark hair and about 5’ 5’’ in height. At the time of the incident, he was wearing khaki dress pants and a blue button-down shirt.
“I suggest that if anyone was in that area and could have seen someone, they contact DPD or Campus Safety,” said Banet.
The crime is currently under investigation by DPD, and on campus the Title IX Department will be leading the case.
The crime alert listed several actions students can take to help prevent a similar incident happening to them, including: walking in numbers, staying on well-lit paths, taking a Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) course offered by Campus Safety and calling Campus Safety for an escort at 303-871-2334.
