While Sacramento State students were enjoying their Thanksgiving weekend, someone took advantage of the closed campus by breaking in and stealing items from three buildings.

Five police reports state that in five different locations several items were stolen between Nov. 23 and Monday.

“It is not unusual for the university to deal with a few missing items after the campus is closed for a long time,” said University Police Sgt. Kelly Clark. “What is unusual is that we had this many items taken.”

The individual who can be seen on the surveillance photos was present in Mariposa 1011 at 3:07 p.m. Saturday and 3:23 a.m. Sunday. Clark said that no one is sure if the same person committed all of the incidents, but officers are investigating.

“Why someone steals a particular property depends on a multitude of things,” Clark said. “It really depends on the suspect and how easy it is to sell.”

Not all computer labs have cameras; only the ones that are high-risk areas have them, said Matthew Mills, the information technology consultant for the College of Arts and Letters.

“We don’t have self-insurance, so we have to buy the cameras (for the labs without cameras). So when we can afford it we’ll get new cameras,” he said.

Mills said the cameras currently in the labs were $500, but now the newest models cost $1,000. He said the newer models are better and offer a wider view range and can page people when the cameras detect anything. “Basically (the cameras) just keep the honest people honest,” Mills said.

Campus protocol when closing down for Thanksgiving break is to lock every classroom and every building. Clark said they’re still looking into the method of entry in all of the cases.

Break-ins of this magnitude were not the first cases of recent theft on campus. “On Labor Day someone really rifled through an office in Mendocino,” Mills said.

A police report on Sept. 5 states that a victim reported that someone entered his office and removed a computer and cash. Another report was taken the next day on Sept. 6 that a stereo system worth $1,500 to $2,000 was missing from a locked cabinet in the aerobics room.

Mills said that before the incidents over the break he hadn’t seen any major thefts in a while.

“There was a case six years ago that involved some janitors, but that was taken care of,” Mills said.

Fortunately serial numbers of the missing valuables were recorded ahead of time, which increases the chances of recovering the stolen property, Clark said. “All students should record serial numbers on all property that has value, the chance of recovery is substantially higher after recording the stolen property in a database.”

Clark is asking for assistance with the case. If you recognize the individual in the photographs or know any more information about the case, contact the Campus Police Department at (916) 278-6851. All calls will remain anonymous.

Melissa Murphy can be reached at [email protected]