Crime Log: Thieves continue targeting sleeping students, abandoned property

Signs that have been posted at the entrance of the Santa Monica College library and the staircases since 2009 implore students not to leave personal belongings unattended due to the recent increase of thefts in the library. Last Monday, a Trek bicycle was stolen just outside the Admissions Building, after a student secured it and went to class. No one was caught in the act, and no witnesses have come forward.

On Tuesday afternoon, an Apple MacBook Pro laptop was stolen on the second floor of the library after a student left it unattended.

A black Apple iPhone 4G was stolen Wednesday between 2:30 and 2:45 p.m. on the second floor of the library after another student fell asleep on a desk with his phone laying inches away. There were no witnesses to the crime, and no one has come forward with further information.

Later that same day at 5 p.m. in the Humanities and Social Sciences Building, an Apple iPod MP3 player with headphones was stolen after a student left it unattended. No suspects were seen, and no one has come forward with further information about the theft.

Late Wednesday afternoon, a student set his Apple MacBook Pro beside him on the library’s east side basement level and fell asleep. After waking up, he headed to class and realizing he was missing his computer around 6 p.m., he returned to retrieve it. Students in the immediate area said they did not see a laptop.

At 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, a gray Apple MacBook Pro with a green case was stolen on the east side of the library’s basement level after a student left his laptop and personal belongings unattended while he went to use the restroom. Upon returning, his laptop was gone and no witnesses have come forward.

“The Santa Monica College Police Department has stepped up uniform officer and cadet patrols in the library to deter thefts, but we need the college community’s assistance,” said Sgt. Jere Romano of the SMCPD.

Stay alert, and if something or someone seems suspicious, call campus police immediately at (310) 434-4300.