SIU police have a suspect who may be connected with the recent rash of book bag thefts from the University Bookstore in the Student Center.

After the sixth reported incident at the bookstore in nearly two months, police released a limited description of a man who, according to bookstore manager Jim Skiersch, may be linked to some of the thefts.

At 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, the suspect attempted to steal a backpack from the bookstore, but Skiersch’s determination kept the suspect from fleeing with the backpack.

An employee noticed him when he came in the store, and they called me, Skiersch said. And I walked up to the front of the store, asked him about the backpack he grabbed and verified that he did not own it.

Skiersch said the suspect momentarily pleaded with him, It was an honest mistake. I must have grabbed the wrong one.’

Skiersch asked the suspect which bag he owned. The suspect then fled the Student Center on a bicycle before police arrived.

When he couldn’t describe what was in the other bag, he decided it was time to leave, Skiersch said.

Police could only describe the suspect as a black male who was last seen wearing dark pants, a red jacket, sunglasses and white shoes.

We had nothing really better than that that we wish to divulge at this time, Police Chief Sam Jordan said.

A video camera monitors the store’s book bag drop.

Skiersch said he is confident the suspect will be apprehended.

I’m pretty sure, unless he leaves the country or leaves the state or something like that, he said.

Though Skiersch said he believes the suspect may be linked to three other thefts at his store, Jordan could not say Thursday whether police think there is a connection.

I really can’t say because I don’t know the facts yet, Jordan said.

Managers of other Carbondale bookstores that focus on the sale of SIUC and John A. Logan textbooks have noticed no recent book bag thefts.

Thomas Keefover, text manager of the Saluki Bookstores at 701 E. Grand Ave., and 502 S. Illinois Ave., said he has not noticed any book bag thefts at his store since he began in December. He said his employees monitor the store’s book drop from adjacent cash registers.

During rush periods there are always people up there to watch that sort of thing, he said.

Mike Pollock, manager of 710 Bookstore, 710 S. Illinois Ave., said 710 also has a security camera over its book bag drop. Pollock instructs his employees to monitor bags located at the drop within 10 feet of their cash registers.

He cites sheer good fortune for the lack of backpack thefts at 710.

Maybe we’ve just been lucky, and we haven’t had that problem, Pollock said. But we do make an effort to try and watch (the book drop).

The University Bookstore also offers a free locker system near the main entrance of the store, but Skiersch has said he believes the lockers are not being used.

Since the bookstore changed its policy for monitoring backpacks at the end of last semester to cut cost constraints, six have been reported stolen.

Prior to the change, SIU police reported only one book bag theft at the University Bookstore, which took place during the fall semester.

Jordan blamed a busy schedule for the lack of an available complete report on Wednesday’s attempted theft.

We can’t just go to a call and immediately write a report on it, Jordan said. Understand there are other calls, and we have to go by priority.