Robbery Reports Up in Harvard Libraries

An increase in wallet thefts in Harvard's libraries in December has police concerned as undergraduates head to the libraries during reading period.

Cabot Science Library showed the most activity last month, with six larcenies occurring there. Thefts were also reported in Widener, Lamont and Langdell libraries as well as Memorial Hall.

"[This] is a significant amount," said Peggy A. McNamara, spokesperson for the Harvard University Police Department.

While police are unsure whether the thefts will recur as students return to campus, they are taking no chances.

HUPD detectives, led by Sergeant Richard Mederos, have narrowed down a time frame the thefts usually occur in, and HUPD is adding uniformed patrols to the libraries during those hours.

The libraries are taking the thefts seriously, but they are not a major threat to student safety, said Beth S. Brainard, spokesperson for the Harvard College libraries.

"We certainly don't have any special emergency plan in place," she said.

And the employees in the affected buildings say they will continue to be watchful of potential thieves.

"We always have been very, very conscious about crime," said Ray C. Traietti, an employee in the Memorial Hall operations office. "Things have to be kept under lock and key."

Still, College officials and employees are asking undergraduates to be more careful with their belongings.

Traietti asked student groups to make sure they lock rooms when they are not using them in Memorial Hall.

Students in the libraries also have been asked to report any suspicious individuals.

"They're just waiting for an opportunity," McNamara said. "If you're going to bring in valuables, don't leave them unattended. Not even for five seconds."

David W. Muir '67, director of library security, echoed McNamara, saying students should use common sense in the libraries.

"Don't leave belongings unattended," he said. "It was like that when I was an undergraduate."

Wallets have been the main targets of the thefts. Police believe that the robber or robbers is interested primarily in cash, as none of the credit cards in the wallets have been used.

Nonetheless, police caution that from the outside a thief cannot tell what a wallet contains.

"Even a wallet with no cash but one credit card is valuable," McNamara said.

No suspicious people have been reported in the area, McNamara said.

HUPD and the library officials said they will work together to ensure students' safety.

If the thefts continue, they might consider taking additional safety measures.

"HUPD told the libraries they'd have a presence, to be proactive, to make sure nothing became an epidemic," Brainard said. "We always want to make sure we're doing the best for our users. Whatever it takes."