Some student residents in Marchetti West apartments have fallen victim to laptop thefts in the last two weeks.

“We have four instances where somebody entered a dorm room in Marchetti West and stole a laptop,” said Department of Public Safety Director Michael Lauer.

“In all four cases, the dorm room was left unlocked or the door was left open,” Lauer said, adding that none of the cases showed any evidence of forced entry.

All of the thefts took place during the middle of the day, Lauer said.

In one instance, Lauer and Department of Residence Life Director Alvin Sturdivant, Ed.D., said a student was in the apartment when the theft took place. However, he or she was not aware of the perpetrator’s presence.

The first two thefts took place on Sept. 9, and the last two thefts took place on Sept. 19, Lauer and Sturdivant said.

Other universities in the area, including Washington University in St. Louis, have dealt with similar thefts recently.

Lauer said that DPS officers are working with the other institutions to determine if there is a link between the crimes.

While Sturdivant said he was aware of possible suspects at Wash. U., he declined to speculate as to whom the perpetrator might be.

Sturdivant said that Res. Life “hasn’t had any trouble with the security system” in place in Marchetti West.

Security cameras were installed in every residence hall’s lobby last semester. Sturdivant said he is working with DPS to monitor Marchetti West’s tapes and guest logs for suspicious activity.

There is “no evidence that indicates it’s a student” from Saint Louis University who is committing the crimes, Lauer said.

Lauer sent SLU students and faculty members an e-mail on Tuesday, Sept. 23, that suggested several ways to protect personal belongings from theft.

Carly Coakliey, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, has become more cautious since she heard about the thefts from a friend.

“Now I regularly lock my door when I leave, even when I just head across the hall,” Coakliey said.