By Sam Normand
Paul Latchford shows the marks from when his door was pried open last week. Photo by Sam Normand.
The Aboriginal Resource Centre at Loyalist College encourages an open door policy for students, but over reading week someone decided to open the doors for themselves.
Two IMac computers, a video camera, and several laptops were stolen from the center. Those responsible left marks from pry-bars used on the doors. Staff’s rooms were left in chaos, file cabinets rifled through, even keyboards and mice were taken.
Paul Latchford, the coordinator for the center, said he is confused why someone would break into a facility designed to help.
“It becomes personal. This center is open to each and every student,” said Latchford. “We’ve seen a mix of students come through, so I think people take it on a personal note. Most students in a college that have come this far, I don’t think you would take something that you use. It’s kind of cutting off the hand that feeds you.”
The theft occurred during the weekend between October 19 and 22, after the center was closed. Latchford says that he normally stays after hours, but had instead gone home for the weekend. When the center opened at 8 a.m. on the 22nd the break-and-enter was discovered. Police were in the building an hour later.
The center hopes to have the missing equipment replaced, but it’s too early to tell at this point whether they’ll be able to replace every stolen item.
College officials did not return calls requesting an interview.
While the break in is an unexpected shock, Latchford said that it won’t discourage the open door policy that is the hallmark of the resource center.
“That’s our style, the doors always open, always will be open. I don’t think this will change anything,” he said.
“I don’t see any big changes for us other than, you know, maybe the existing stations that we have we may need to look at a better way to secure them.”
Belleville police are currently investigating the incident, according to Sgt. Julie Forestell.
This isn’t the first time that equipment has been stolen from the college. In the academic year of 2011-2012, 13 IMac’s were stolen from the college from various media facilities. Replacements were valued at $2,300 each at the time.
In 2010, $150,000 worth of equipment was stolen from the Loyalist school of trades program.
In both instances the equipment was never recovered but was replaced by the college.