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Scammers selling stolen textbooks apprehended
Mabel Suen
Issue date: 7/9/07 Section: News
An organized group involved in St. Louis area university and college textbook thefts, consisting of a scam to convince students to sell stolen textbooks to campus bookstores, has been apprehended.
According to an e-mail sent on June 14 from Robert Roeseler, chief of University police, the group of 12 individuals, both male and female, stole textbooks from bookstores at Fontbonne University, Maryville University, Washington University, Florissant Valley Community College and UM-St. Louis during the past six weeks.
Since student identification is required to sell books back at the UM-St. Louis bookstore, the individuals approached students in the parking lot and in the Millennium Student Center, claiming to have forgotten their I.D. cards and conning unsuspecting students into selling books back to the bookstore for them.
"Anytime you have a large university, you're going to have thefts," said campus police officer Gregory Bingham.
"We have a low crime rate here, which I'm glad to say, but it's an ongoing thing, and we work with other schools to try to not only apprehend but to stop the flow of people coming in here to steal books and bring things back."
According to Bingham, increased safety measures on campus include more foot patrol, informational flyers, networking with other universities both verbally and at monthly meetings and close detective work.
"We try to be proactive," he said, adding that a detective bureau is currently involved in an ongoing investigation of textbook theft cases across college campuses.
In the event that scammers approach students, Bingham said students should, "call the police or notify the folks in here."Overall, he stressed that students should be aware of their surroundings.
Other safety tips he offered included knowing the locations of call phones throughout campus and knowing a contact person such as a residential assistant or operations manager to go to in order to connect with campus security.
"If you ever have an issue with anything, call us, because we work well with the kids. I like working with the youth here on campus, and I hope students don't have a problem coming to us, because that's what we're here for," he said. "Be safe. Be your first line of defense. Be aware."
According to an e-mail sent on June 14 from Robert Roeseler, chief of University police, the group of 12 individuals, both male and female, stole textbooks from bookstores at Fontbonne University, Maryville University, Washington University, Florissant Valley Community College and UM-St. Louis during the past six weeks.
Since student identification is required to sell books back at the UM-St. Louis bookstore, the individuals approached students in the parking lot and in the Millennium Student Center, claiming to have forgotten their I.D. cards and conning unsuspecting students into selling books back to the bookstore for them.
"Anytime you have a large university, you're going to have thefts," said campus police officer Gregory Bingham.
"We have a low crime rate here, which I'm glad to say, but it's an ongoing thing, and we work with other schools to try to not only apprehend but to stop the flow of people coming in here to steal books and bring things back."
According to Bingham, increased safety measures on campus include more foot patrol, informational flyers, networking with other universities both verbally and at monthly meetings and close detective work.
"We try to be proactive," he said, adding that a detective bureau is currently involved in an ongoing investigation of textbook theft cases across college campuses.
In the event that scammers approach students, Bingham said students should, "call the police or notify the folks in here."Overall, he stressed that students should be aware of their surroundings.
Other safety tips he offered included knowing the locations of call phones throughout campus and knowing a contact person such as a residential assistant or operations manager to go to in order to connect with campus security.
"If you ever have an issue with anything, call us, because we work well with the kids. I like working with the youth here on campus, and I hope students don't have a problem coming to us, because that's what we're here for," he said. "Be safe. Be your first line of defense. Be aware."
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 11
Kathleen
posted 10/03/08 @ 2:26 AM CST
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posted 2/28/09 @ 12:57 AM CST
Yes, defense yourself and help to defense others as well.
scams :(
posted 3/02/09 @ 4:06 PM CST
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Wilma Todhunter
posted 3/05/09 @ 2:03 AM CST
Good information. Thanks for the post.
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posted 3/09/09 @ 2:59 AM CST
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posted 3/11/09 @ 6:49 AM CST
Not only these kind of scams there are other scams as well.
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posted 3/11/09 @ 6:55 AM CST
Yes I think students should inform to the authorities. I have already experienced with this kind of problem. But I informed the it and I got a good response
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posted 3/11/09 @ 7:14 AM CST
Foot patrol is also very important. Have to consider these kind of security in the campus
Eleanor Cook
posted 3/12/09 @ 5:39 AM CST
This sounds like a great program and a great way to improve education in our schools!
Katherine Waite
posted 3/14/09 @ 11:02 AM CST
I like articles like this. Great Article! Thanks!
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