The OU Department of Public Safety has its hands full trying to solve more than 100 recent burglaries and larcenies on the OU Campus.
Records show 39 burglaries and 96 larcenies have occurred since November 2002. A number of thefts occurred during winter break when the campus was shut down. An analysis of the last four months -- November 2002 to February 2003 -- shows a 58 percent increase in reported burglaries and a 23 percent increase in larcenies compared to last year. The police say they have suspects in 33 recent larcenies and burglaries and the crime rate has declined.
OU Department of Public Safety Lt. Bruce Chan said the increase in crime was the result of a few individuals.
"During follow-up investigations, we were able to arrest two to three individuals," Chan said. "The high rate of larcenies and burglaries has dropped."
Detective Scott Gibbons, who is in charge of the investigation, said Saturday he is unable to provide any additional information about the other burglaries and larcenies that occurred during the last four months because the investigation is ongoing.
About $79,000 worth of property on campus has been stolen since November 2002, according to police records. This includes a $14,000 projector from a conference room in Carson Engineering Center, a central processing unit from the Dale Hall Tower computer lab, a laptop from a professor's office in Sarkeys Energy Center and $7,000 worth of personal property from the second floor residents of Parker and Oliver Houses in Cate Center.
"For the last several months we have recognized an increase in larcenies and burglaries from our faculty and staff in this building," said Doug Elmore, associate dean of the College of Geosciences in Sarkeys. "As soon as we became aware of the first ones, we notified all of our faculty and staff that there was a problem and to keep their doors locked when they leave."
Since November, thieves have stolen $11,580 worth of property from Sarkeys, according to police records.
Usually, when there is a short spike in particular crimes, it is the work of a small group of individuals, Chan said.
"This is probably the most cases that we have ever tied, in the past decade, to one group of individuals," OUDPS Chief Joe Lester said.
Gibbons said Ian Stuart Hill, 31, of 1713 E. Boyd St., was a suspect in 50 burglaries, but since the investigation has progressed he is now only a suspect in 33 larcenies and burglaries with George Dane Daniels, 39, of 741 Jenkins Ave., Sandra Denise Parker, 43, of 415 1/2 Lahoma and John Pryor, 49, of 109 1/2 E. Duffy St. One incident occurred last July and 32 incidents have occurred since December.
Gibbons said he has not ruled out more charges being filed against the suspects.
Current charges against Parker, Daniels and Pryor are related to misuse and possession of stolen property, according to court records. Parker has two counts of knowingly concealing stolen property and one count of possession of a lost or mislaid credit card. Daniels has one count of uttering a forged instrument, a charge associated with forging checks. Pryor has one count of knowingly concealing stolen property and one count of false declaration of ownership. Parker, Daniels and Pryor are being held in the Cleveland County Detention Center.
Hill faces two counts of petty larceny, one count of burglary of an auto, one count of credit card violations and one count of knowingly concealing stolen property. He was released on his own personal recognizance after turning himself in Wednesday.
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