Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

U. Central Florida hall burglarized, Social Security numbers compromised
By Stephanie de Sousa
Central Florida Future U. Central Florida
May 15, 2008

The UCF Police Department is investigating two burglaries, both involving grand thefts in Colbourn Hall, occurring between April 24 and 28.

Faculty and staff said that laptops, flash drives with students' Social Security numbers, a projector and several sets of keys were stolen.

"One of the items taken was a flash drive that contained student information, including Social Security numbers for about 50 students," said Chad Binette, assistant director of UCF News and Information. "All of the students were notified of the incident, and police are not aware of any of the data being used inappropriately."

Departments across the fourth floor and fifth floor of Colbourn Hall were broken into, including history, English, women's studies and African American studies.

All of the students whose information was on the drive stolen from the history department were graduate students.

Andrew Kinsell, a graduate history student and graduate assistant, said he did not receive the e-mail from the graduate history department until days after the thefts were reported.

"I'm upset that it took them four days to tell me that my Social Security number was stolen," Kinsell said.

The e-mail, sent May 1, encouraged students to "change your passwords of your e-mail accounts, as well as your bank passwords."

Binette also said that students should monitor their credit reports regularly, and that the university will be sending them a follow-up e-mail about how to protect themselves from identity theft.

Anjella Warnshuis, program assistant for African American studies and women's studies, said she first heard about the thefts when she received a call from her boss on Saturday, April 26, asking Warnshuis if she had a laptop that was missing.

When Warnshuis went to return the power supply for another laptop to its bag, she noticed that the computer was not in the bag and had also been stolen, along with the key to her office.

"I thought it was odd. The materials that were stolen were old," she said, describing the laptops as 2001 and 2004 models. "We've learned a lot about locking stuff away now."

Warnshuis said the locks on her office door were changed the next day and metal plates had been ordered for the doors to prevent someone from prying them open.

"It takes away that sense of security," said Sharon Body, program assistant for the English department down the hall from Warnshuis.

Body walked in Monday, April 28, and noticed the main door to the English department had been broken into, as well as the file cabinets in the lobby. Her keys were missing as well.

Since the incidents, Body has hidden her keys, and would like to see other changes made in the building.

"I'd like a different kind of lock system on these doors, maybe even metal doors. I think they're harder to break into," Body said.

"It'd be great if they could re-key the whole building," said Amelia Lyons, assistant professor of history. She said she understands that it's a little difficult with the budget cuts.

Lyons had a laptop and a projector, similar to those mounted on the ceilings of classrooms, stolen from her office.

Since UCF PD is still investigating, it is unknown how much property was taken, or how much it was all worth. It is also unknown if any major changes have been made to the building's security.

For more information about identity theft and protection, UCF PD encourages any students, faculty or staff to visit their Web site, www.police.ucf.edu, and click on Crime Prevention.

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