The Ping Recreation Center invested $12,000 in five security cameras this August.
Theft reports have been on a downward slope since the original six cameras were installed in 2006, but there was an uncharacteristic spike this fall.
The center purchased and installed the first cameras for about $13,000 in the summer of 2006, said Melissa Toretch, assistant director.
According to police records, 28 thefts were reported during the 2005-06 school year, 18 thefts were reported during the 2006-07 school year, five thefts were reported during the '07-08 school year and five thefts were reported in September 2008.
Sgt. Rich Russell of the Ohio University Police Department said increased thefts in September are probably the work of a repeat offender, which is common at Ping.
Once the person responsible is caught, the numbers tend to drop, he said.
Most thefts occur when people fail to lock up their belongings, Lt. Chris Johnson of the OUPD said.
Ultimately it's the fault of the person who's stealing it
but the other issue is that the lockers were installed for people to use. And it's relatively simple that you put your quarter in and lock your stuff Johnson said.
Two people were arrested for theft at Ping Winter Quarter 2008 after being caught on tape. One of those two people was responsible for 10 thefts from unlocked lockers, mostly in the men's locker room.
According to OUPD records, $550 of cash and merchandise has been stolen since the start of the 2007-08 year.- Johnson said. It gives us a great deal more information to follow up on.
The added cameras will help reduce theft because staff can get better shots of suspects entering and leaving the building and locker rooms, Toretch said.
We've had problems at the basketball court
Toretch said. We had a couple of fights in an area
and it comes down to 'he said
she said.' And where the fight actually took place
it wasn't in view of the area.
Police records indicate that only one fight has been reported to the OUPD since the center's opening. Russell said this might be because the staff at Ping can choose which incidents they report and has the right to keep certain incidents to themselves.
Toretch also said more fights may have occurred, but have been missed by staff because of limited camera visuals.
Because the cameras show staff what is going on at the center in real time, the staff might be able to stop fights before they escalate, she said.
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