VCRs stolen from 10 high rise lounges

Ten video cassette recorders were stolen from lounges in the High Rises during a three-day period earlier this month, University Police said last night. And Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said last night the thefts, which occurred from April 5 to 8, are not isolated incidents. She said VCRs were also stolen from the dormitories over winter and spring breaks. "We put them in because we thought it would be a nice thing for the students to have them available at all times," she said. "But given what's happened, we're going to have to reconsider." Simeone added that the rest of the nearly 30 VCRs have been removed from the lounges, which are also equipped with television sets, for the rest of the year. University Police Sergeant Keith Christian said officers were briefed on the thefts during a recent roll call. "We told them to check through the buildings periodically," he said last night. Simeone said the VCRs had been secured to walls in the lounges, but added that the thieves were able to unscrew the securing devices. Wharton sophomore Carl Engle said last night that the VCR in the lounge on his High Rise East floor "looked pretty well bolted down," and he does not know "how someone could have gotten it out." He suspects students in the thefts. "You could be in [the lounge] for hours and nobody would know," he said. Wharton sophomore Savina Eneva, who lives on the same floor, agrees that students are to blame for the thefts. "It is just amazing how a student at Penn could do such a thing," she said. Both students agree that the VCR theft is a major inconvenience to students who live on their floor. "We used to watch movies all the time," Savina said. Simeone said Residential Living is currently considering options for next year and will consult students to see what they think makes sense. Christian said University Police detectives are currently investigating the case.