8/8/2019 Bookstore thief takes $33,000, remains at large

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Bookstore thief takes $S3,000, remains at large

police drawingWANTED - potice betievdthis man stole $33,000 fromEUP's bookstore.

By Christopher TrayEDITORPolice continue to look for

the man who stole some$33,000 from the EdinboroUrriversity bookstore on AugustThe heist, whicn wascommifted without physicalhurl to any universityemployees, students. orfamilies, took place at around Ior l:15 p.m., according to BillReed, Edinboro Universitv'sassistant vice president fo.media arid community

relations.The suspect posed as areparrrnan at the time of theincident, saying that he was oncampus to check the alarmsystern located in the bookstore.Upon gaining entrance intothe alarm system, the robber --who was clad in a dress shirtand a tie -- emptied the safe,which was left open. Themonies stolen included $21,800in checks, $11,500 in cash, and$140 in money orders.Although the suspect gotaway with tfie funds fairlvunsuspectingly, Edinboro

University Police Chief TomNelson is enthused bv theprogress of the investi gation."We definitely do havesomething positive to point to,"Nelson said. "We got contactedby another universiW in westernPennsylvania who hid a similartheft happen."Nelson noted that the physicaldescription of that robber issimilar to that of tfe EUp thief."At the other westernPennsylvania university."commented Nelson, "a medirun-skinned black male walked intoan activities room, saying he

was there to check the lightingsystem. While there, this manalso walked away with asizeable amount of cash from anearby desk drawer."Nelson added that the manwho committed the crime at theother Western PennsvlvaniaUniversity.may, in fait, belinked to the similar crimecommitted at Edinboro."Certainly, this may havebeen a local crime," saidNelson, "but the style of dressand M.O. of the suspect was the

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8/8/2019 Bookstore thief takes $33,000, remains at large

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BOOkStOfg . . . conrirued from page Isame at both of the universities,so there are definite possibilitiesthat the robber may have beenthe same man."Nelson also said that an e-mail was sent out to all majoruniversities located in WesternPennsylvania, informing each ofthesc institutions llxrrrt thcrobbcry as well as thc suspect."Through the WestemPennsylvania College andUniversity Security DirectorsAssociation," Nelson related,"an e-mail, a composite drawingof the suspect, and his M.O. forthe crime was distributed."f)espite the fact that the thiefwalkcd away witlr tlrc lurgc surrrof money, Paul Kightlinger, thedirector of auxiliary operationsat Edinboro University, praisedthe students' handling of thesituation."I have to give credit to thestudents," said Kightlinger."The store was quite busy andthe suspect was nonchalant inhis actions. He really didn'traise any suspicion. I credit thestudents for developing thecomposite sketch that was sentout to the various authorities,and now because of theincident, students are moreaware that I.D.'s must beshown, especially if the visitoris extemal."Following the robbery,Nelson commented that securitymeasures are almost sure to beincreased at the camousbookstore."As we speak, there is aproposal for over 30 cameras tobe installed at the UniversiryCenter." said Nelson. "Themain thing to consider now isdeciding who should put in thenew security systemmaintenance here on campus or

an outside contractor."Besides the proposed newsecurity cameras at the campusbookstore, Nelson also felt thatsecurity measures need to betightened up by universityemployees, including students."Will this sitrratiorr pr()lnl)tarry lirrlhcl training lbr studentemployees to better handlemoney?," Nelson askedrhetorically. "I would certainlyhope so. We definitely need,totighten up procedures andpolicies."Despite the need to reinforcethose policies, Nelson did saythat the bookstore was in atritttsitiorr ol' Ittlttagcnrcnt lt tltc:time of the crime.Heidi Savage, the manager ofthe bookstore at Penn State-Behrend, was somewhatsurprised that the safe atEdinboro was left open in thefirst place. ."Our safe is constantly keptlocked,r,as is the door to thesafe," she said. "The securitysystem is also locked and onlytwo people -- myself and myassistant manager -- have keysto it. No one but the two of uscan get in there."Nancy Kierzek, the managerof the bookstore at GannonUniversity, knows about thedaily happenings that go on atthe Edinboro Universitybookstore. Kierzek wasemployed here as the interimmanager from November 1997to February 1999."We don't differ fromEdinboro a whole lot." she said."People who work here areexcellent people, just like atEdinboro, and are veryconscientious in knowing howmuch money is in the safe at alltimes."

Kierzek commented thatwhile she was at Edinboro,students were never givenaccess to the safe. Her currentpolicies dd not differ at Gannon."The safe is locked down atall times," Kicrzck sirirl."Wlrcrrcvcr y()u ()l)cn tlrc salc,you take out or deposit themoney you need, then you lockit down."Behrend's Savage said thatstudent employees are not in aposition to grant externalvisitors, such as someone fixinga repair system, access into anypart of the campus bookstorewithout her prior approval."All strrrlcnt cnrployccs rnrrstdefer to me tbr f urther

SCENE OF THE CRIME - The campus bookstore was victimized by theft on August 27.Bookstore managers at other area campuses agree that security is always a major issue.

said that t[e campus police arealways hanging around herbookstore anylvay, keeping aneye on its shoppers and whatthey are doing.Kicrzck addcd that . herbookstore hasn't chansed athing since the Ed-inbororobbery."Our money will continue toget pulled frequently,"commented Kierzek. "We arein .the middle of Erie, andbecause ofthat and also the factfhat the fall 'book rush' iscurrently going on, we have tobe especially conscious of themoney in our safe."

instruction on how to handle avisiior," said Savage.Gannon's Kierzek explainedthat the'thange in managementat Edinboro might have played apart in the robbcr wllking trwlywillt tlrc loot."ljccausc ol' the recentchanges in management, thatmay have been one of thereasons why this offenderslipped through the cracks," sheexplained. "Yet, Edinboro headcashier Linda Swift is quiteconscientious and very much onthe ball."When asked if any furthermethods would be consideredso that Rchrcnd's bookstorewould not be robbed, Savage