Pulliam Hall burglarized for second time

By Gus Bode

Stolen equipment now totals more than $25,000

For the second time in two months, the Department of Curriculum and Instruction has been burglarized, leaving department officials trying to figure out how to replace more than $25,000 in stolen equipment.

Six Apple laptops, valued at $1,688 each, were reported stolen from the department, located in Pulliam Hall, between Jan. 18 and 19.

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According to Joe Kallo, the department’s technology coordinator, the computers were taken from his office, which he said was locked. He said there were no broken windows or other signs of forced entry. Kallo also said some of the computers were cut from their desk restraints.

This is the second since the end of the fall semester that the department has suffered a substantial financial loss due to burglaries.

Between Dec. 17 and Jan. 4 more than $16,000 in computer and camera equipment was stolen from the department. This burglary was also by non-forcible entry.

SIUC Police director Todd Sigler said there are no suspects in either case and he did not have any information indicating the two incidents are related.

However, Sigler said the department has not eliminated the possibility that someone within the department may be the perpetrator.

“We’ve not ruled out anybody, whether it be internal or external,” Sigler said.

Sigler said the SIU Police Department has increased its security efforts across campus.

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Dave Brandt, locksmith foreman for the Physical Plant, declined to disclose how many keys have been issued for the department but said the area may need to be re-keyed.

Brandt said key control has received several requests to re-key several other buildings on campus, but he is unaware of any requests made by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

The stolen equipment in both burglaries was uninsured. Kallo said in lieu of the second burglary, the department has now obtained insurance on all of its remaining equipment.

University policy currently does not require departments to insure their valuables. It is left up to each academic unit to determine the costs and benefits of purchasing insurance for its equipment.

University spokeswoman Sue Davis said changing the policy would be something worth looking into.

Kallo said the theft of the computers, which were used in graduate and undergraduate instruction, not only has set the department back financially but also has hindered its everyday operations.

“I’m trying to figure out a way that we can replace them,” Kallo said. “They were computers that were pretty important for our functioning. So if I can find a way to replace them, I will.”

Reporter Ashley Richardson can be reached at [email protected]

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