A break-in on the fourth and fifth floors of Cabell Hall over the weekend forced police officers to close the top two floors of the building yesterday morning while they investigated the damages.
According to College Chief Technology Officer Charles Grisham, who has an office in 444 Cabell, at least seven computers were stolen, including a laptop belonging to College Dean Edward L. Ayers.
The robbery "must have been some time over the weekend," Grisham said. "I think [the burglars] must have been after hardware."
University Police Sgt. Tom Durrer said an investigation into the events currently is ongoing.
Grisham said he did not think Ayers' laptop contained sensitive information that could be accessed by the intruder.
"I think most of the information was password-protected, like his e-mail account," Grisham said. "I doubt if anyone could access" any important files.
Ayers is out of town and could not be reached for comment.
In addition, Grisham said approximately $2,500 was stolen from one faculty member who has an office on the fourth floor of Cabell. Joseph Grasso, associate dean of planning and operations, had several power point presentations stolen.
Celestia Hollen, the receptionist in the graduate admissions office, located in 419 Cabell, said all the damage already had been done when she arrived in the morning but that she was unsure when the burglaries occurred.
"There were people in over the weekend," Hollen said. "We don't know when exactly it occurred."
Hollen said the police conducted their investigation in the morning and had reopened the fourth and fifth floors after lunch.
"The police did a very intensive survey," she said, adding that they were back inside "by one o'clock."
University Spokeswoman Louise Dudley confirmed that some robberies did occur, but did not know any of the details.
"There were some thefts reported," Dudley said. "I heard there were some computers stolen and some money taken."
According to Grisham, the intruders broke into Ayers' office and stole several master keys to the fourth floor, with which they opened many other doors. He said he did not believe the stolen keys could access any other doors outside Cabell Hall.
"I think the keys were only to New Cabell," he said.
He also added he did not believe the intruders aimed to steal guarded information, although he said some reports and documents may have been stolen.
"I believe [the documents] were public information," he said.
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