Police are seeking information from the campus community after a burglar raided Sellery Hall dorm rooms early Friday morning.
According to a University of Wisconsin Police Department statement, a male suspect entered multiple residents’ rooms in the B-Tower of Sellery Hall. It said the suspect left several rooms right away when he discovered the residents were awake and stole items from occupants who were asleep in their rooms.
UWPD Sgt. Aaron Chapin said police are currently looking to see if there are other residents of Sellery Hall that believe their room may have been been burglarized by the perpetrator.
He said he does not know if the suspect is a UW student or a resident of Sellery Hall. He added in past cases of theft in UW residence halls, the thieves did not belong in the residence halls, but found a way to sneak in.
The suspect is described as white, age 18 to 20, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 tall and approximately 160 pounds with short dark brown hair, according to statement. The statement added he was wearing a black fleece jacket, a white shirt and blue jeans.
Chapin said there are many security features in place in the UW residence halls and in order to keep students safe, it takes a combined effort to make sure the systems work and catch the ways people could “play the system.”
“The challenge we have is we’ve always been taught to be nice to other people, and it’s hard when someone behind you says, ‘Hey, hold the door open.’ We’ve been taught it’s kind to hold the door,” Chapin said. “It’s counter-intuitive to challenge that, but we try to tell students that’s important and a message that housing tries to get out as well.”
The statement urged residents not to open doors for anyone who does not have a card or key for doors that require an access card or key for entry.
In almost all cases of theft at residence halls, the individual dorm rooms were left unlocked, according to Chapin.
Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said thefts on campus are common, but the suspects usually get caught. He said even though students often leave their dorm rooms unlocked to create a welcoming, community environment, it is essential to lock them at night.
“Thefts on campus are always a concern,” Resnick said. “I do encourage students to use caution, particularly at night even when they are in the room.”
According to Resnick, robberies in residence halls can occur within 20 seconds of each other and it is easy for thieves to walk in. He urged students to talk to their house fellow or UWPD if they see something suspicious late at night.
Even though thefts on campus are common, Resnick said dorms are generally a safe place. He said it is rare to see serious incidents inside the dorms themselves.
Chapin said thefts in residence halls, academic buildings and student unions are the most common crimes UWPD encounters. He said the thefts are typically students stealing from other students, which UW takes a harsh stance on.
“We work very hard to try to educate students and try to institute good theft-prevention programs and make sure the campus is as safe as we can possibly make it,” Chapin said.
