by Amanda Stutevoss
Sports Editor
The University of La Verne’s Music Department, in the basement of Founders Hall, reported a missing DVD player, sound system and turntable after an apparent burglary on Feb. 3, said Music Professor Reed Gratz.
At approximately 4:45 p.m. Jay Jones, director of the office of instructional technology, whose office is also in Founders, said he heard a noise coming from room 22 in the building’s basement.
The suspects are two male teens, 15-16-years-old.
Their description is similar to that of the suspects in at least one other recent burglary on campus, according to campus safety officers. The suspects were last seen on foot on Third street approximately 10 minutes after the apparent crime.
At the time of this apparent crime, Jones said he noticed two skateboards sitting in the basement hallway outside the room from where the equipment turned up missing.
Jones took the skateboards as possible evidence and to make sure that those inside the room could not use them for quick escape, he said.
Then he tried unsuccessfully to open the door while the apparent crime was occurring.
He waited outside until the teenagers exited the room, he said adding that both were wearing backpacks.
The door to a cabinet in the music room was askew, Jones said.
He asked the teens why they were there and began escorting them to the Campus Safety and Transportation Office.
The suspects demanded their skateboards back and took off running when Jones refused to return the skateboards, Jones said.
Jones said he reported the incident to the Campus Safety. Safety officers also called the La Verne Police Department.
“The suspects’ descriptions as well as their skateboards are at the police department,” said Director of Campus Safety and Transportation, John Lentz.
“They were believed to have been on campus before this event,” he added.
Representatives from the music department also have met with Lentz.
Lentz said he’s devised a plan to help secure the music department, but would not talk about the details of that plan.
He did say, however that everything of value is securely locked and protected by alarms inside the building.
Additionally, the music department library will soon be moved to room 16 in the basement of Founders Hall for security purposes, Gratz said.
“We are notoriously hit,” Gratz said.
“Maybe this move will help us be more secure,” he said.
La Verne Police declined to comment on the incident, which is still under investigation.
