There’s a possibility that someone is enjoying an Apple computer and Aiwa stereo along with some fast cash and other electronics after several thefts occurred in the Danna Center last week. And in a scenario with so many uncertainties, students and staff are questioning who could and would take the items.

Last week, both a desktop and laptop computer, a DVD player, a stereo system and $250 in cash were stolen from various offices in the Danna Center all within days of each other and without any suspects so far, students and staff said.

“Things go missing from time to time,” said Chris Cameron, director of the Danna Center. “My concern is that in a short period of time we had someone on campus or who came on to campus who is very dishonest.”

In their basement offices, the Student Government Association and Muslim Student Association found themselves the victims of theft one day after each other and on the heels of a recent rash of automobile thefts from the Freret Street Garage.

Sometime between the late night hours of Monday, April 9, and the early morning hours of April 10, someone stole a Macintosh computer used for marketing and public relations from the SGA office.

Political science junior and vice president-elect Adam Kohler said in the years he’s been affiliated with SGA, he’s never heard of any thefts happening in the office. He said there was nothing of importance on the computer.

“It was basically all our advertising from the year,” Kohler said.

Jordan Hultine, mass communication junior and SGA chief of staff, said University Police are investigating the thefts. Requests for comment from UP were not returned.

UP records from 2005 – the most recent on file because of Hurricane Katrina – showed a total of three burglaries on campus, with two being in residence halls.

Kohler said the office was locked at the time of the theft. He said several people, including the president, vice president and all the executive staff have office keys but he does not think anyone on SGA took the computer.

“I wish” there was a suspect, he said. “That’s a $2,000 piece of equipment we have to replace. It has to really be someone who has knowledge of this equipment.”

Across the hall from SGA, Shaawn Ali, president of the Muslim Student Association, is in “disbelief” after the unknown thief made off with $250 cash that was intended for the charity Helping Hand USA and the organization’s stereo system.

Sometime between Tuesday, April 10, and Wednesday, April 11, the money and stereo were stolen from the MSA office. Ali said he keeps the office unlocked most of the time so Muslim students on campus can have a place to pray.

“Not everyone can have a key,” he said, adding, “I’m not willing to not let people pray.”

Ali, pre-med psychology junior, said the organization never had a problem with theft before and that he left a note on the office door to the thief with the message “Dear thief, The money you stole was for children in Africa. I hope you remember God is watching you.”

“(Stealing) the money for the poor is unacceptable,” he said. “It’s something we tried to get the school involved with and we did. Now we probably won’t have a donation.”

Ali said he doesn’t have any suspects and doesn’t want to accuse anyone of stealing from the office. He has not reported the theft to UP yet because he has been studying for the MCAT but said he will soon.

In the meantime, Ali is holding out hope that whoever stole the money will return it. “It’s all God’s plan. Maybe we’ll get lucky,” he said, “and have Santa pay us a visit early if someone brings it back.”

Cameron’s office, now short a DVD player and laptop computer, is in the same boat as both SGA and MSA in not knowing who took the equipment.

The electronics were reported stolen March 19 and in a unexpected theft, were taken from an audio-visual cart with anti-theft devices in a storage room, according to Daphne Cambridge, associate director of the Danna Center.

“I know there’s a trend,” Cameron said.

A directors’ meeting of deparment heads will be held next week and Cameron will discuss the thefts with UP, he said.

Daniel Monteverde can be reached at [email protected].