Posted on 02/08/2010 7:44:12 PM PST by SmithL
BERKELEY — Those needing to use a bathroom on the UC Berkeley campus may find themselves having to hold it, thanks to a rash of thievery striking the campus plumbing.
Burglars have been bringing tools into bathrooms at buildings across the campus and removing brass flushing hardware from the toilets, effectively dismantling more than three dozen commodes to date, campus police Chief Mitch Celaya said today.
"We've put out crime alert to make people aware of it," Capt. Margo Bennett said. "But because of the seclusion in the bathrooms, it's hard to expect eyewitnesses. So we're asking people to just be aware. If you see strangers in the building, give us a call. If you see people walking around with bags that look like they may be carrying tools or parts, give us a call. We're hoping to pick up some sightings of suspicious people in the area."
Each stolen part costs the school more than $250 to replace, Bennett said, which would place the cost thus far at more than $9,000.
The criminals' motivation, she added, is to sell the brass parts as scrap or to other kinds of metal dealers.
"These kinds of thieves tend to go to construction sites or locations where these materials are loosely lying around, or closed off buildings no longer in use," Bennett said. "They take parts without being seen. Most of what we've had are usually at night when buildings are closed or less occupied."
The thieving leaves the toilets unusable, Bennett said.
"You have to cut the water off," she said. "Once the piece is out, you can't turn the water back on without flooding the bathroom."
Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to call 510-642-0472 during normal business hours or 510-642-6760 at any other time.
Its the professional homeless that live in luxury around the perimeter of the campus that do this crap.
The city coddles them.
>>”These kinds of thieves tend to go to construction sites or locations where these materials are loosely lying around, or closed off buildings no longer in use,” Bennett said. “They take parts without being seen. Most of what we’ve had are usually at night when buildings are closed or less occupied.”
How intolerant! You’re in Berkeley. Don’t you know that the thief is stealing because of Bush. You should be able to provide stuff for these poor souls to take. This is the progressive way.
In fact, the enlightened professors will probably encourage the thieves to help themselves to some of the shrubs and plants, as well.
And the democratic way is to just provide the money that the stolen goods would sell for without the burglars having to do any actual “work.”
I wonder if they give the toilet a “courtesy flush” before they remove the flush assembly?
That would be wasting water...
I’m not sure if these rules are already in place, but wouldn’t it dry up the illicit sources if scrap buyers were required to get better documentation of their purchases? I think pawn shops have to get a certain amount of identification before their transactions. Not having sold scrap metal or pawned anything I’m clearly not an expert.
George Michael has offered his services as a guard.
Every one of you is wrong. This is a theft ring in northern cal that is removing mostly motion activated units.
THERE IS FILM OF SUSPECTS.
UC Berkeley is so full of leftist crap that they are gonna need 1,000 portapotties to handle all their crap.
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