Sac State’s WAPs stolen from Parking Structure V
(We’re talking wireless access points)
No need to buy a phone for pictures of these WAPs. IRT installed the wireless access points in the corners of Parking Structure V, some of them attached on top of the emergency phones by the staircases and elevators as seen here on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020.
October 5, 2020
Two WAPs were stolen from Parking Structure V on the morning of Sept. 10, according to Sacramento State Police.
WAP, an acronym made popular by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s song “WAP,” in this case does not refer to a reproductive organ, but rather equipment that helps students be productive: wireless access points.
While records don’t make clear exactly how the thief swiped the WAPs like a credit card, Sac State PD crime logs report that the theft occurred between 9:53 and 9:55 a.m. The theft is not connected to a separate incident that occurred the same day of someone tampering with electrical equipment, according to Sac State Police Chief Mark Iwasa.
Iwasa said Sac State Police does not know who stole the WAPs, and the stolen WAPs have not been recovered.
According to Sac State Information Resources & Technology, both wireless access points were replaced the next day. IRT also added that this week, Facilities Management staff is working on securing the equipment to prevent future thefts.
WAPs are common networking hardware that allow wireless devices like cell phones and laptops to connect to a wired network.
Multiple WAPs are installed at the corners of Parking Structure V. IRT said that since there are other WAPs, the crime did not interrupt services.
IRT reported the stolen wireless access points were “8 years old and can be purchased from the internet for $139 to $200,” specifically, two Aruba 215 WAPs.
IRT installed the WAPs in March so that students could access the drive-in Wi-Fi service. According to IRT’s website, the drive-in Wi-Fi is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and does not require a parking permit, making the service certified free, five days a week.
Psychology student Ashly Apeah said she has internet access at home but uses the campus’ drive-in Wi-Fi for the quieter environment. She said Sac State should extend the time internet access is available.
“There’s a lot of people like I do who work during the day still, and then just have to do the homework at night,” Apeah said. “It would be more ideal to come here at night to do homework and have a reliable Wi-Fi source, and I just feel like it’d be more convenient for a longer period of time.”
For now, students can park their big Mack trucks in Parking Structure V and use the WAPs, no bucket or mop required.
(You can’t actually fit a big Mack truck into Parking Structure V.)
CORRECTION: 1:11 p.m. Oct. 5, 2020
A previous version of this article said the stolen wireless access points were originally reported as a man tampering with electrical equipment in Parking Structure V. The two incidents are separate, according to Sac State Police Chief Mark Iwasa.
Billy T. • Nov 26, 2020 at 10:57 am
LOL!
Did you know that putting macaroni in a pot produces a WiFi signal?