University of Memphis police responded to the theft of a DeWalt drill/driver charger at the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law on Jan. 25 - less than a week after the grand opening of the new location.
Tommy Rogers, lead maintenance mechanic at the downtown building, told officers he believed the crime could have been an inside job.
"Someone working there may have taken it," he said. "I lent it to one of the electronics guys and told him to be sure to lock it up overnight."
The charger, property of The U of M, was brand-new and "worth a couple hundred dollars," Rogers said.
Because there were a number of people in the area when the device was taken, it is unlikely it will be recovered, said Derek Myers, deputy director of Police Services at The U of M.
"It walked off when there were a lot of people working," he said.
The following day, officers answered a vandalism call at the campus when assistant professor Jodi Wilson reported someone had shattered the window of her 2003 Ford Explorer.
Wilson told police nothing appeared to be missing from her vehicle.
Crime levels at the new spot could differ drastically from the law school's former location on campus, Myers said.
"In some ways, it's like comparing apples and oranges," he said. "The only major difference is the parking situation."
Because law students and faculty park in garages separate from the building, their belongings could be at a greater risk of being stolen, Myers said.
"(The University) is not responsible for the garages," he said.
New surveillance cameras, which will provide footage viewable to security guards, could provide extra protection against vehicle theft, Myers said.
"The only (incident) I've heard of that's parking-related is Court Street," he said, referring to a separate downtown incident. "We're supposed to provide escorts to people coming and going."
Daniel Brown, business officer at the law school, said he was unaware of both incidents and that they were not grounds for increasing security at the location.
"We have a campus police officer here 24/7," he said.
Eric Mogy, second-year law student, said he takes some precautions to avoid falling victim to downtown crime.
"I don't leave valuables in my car as a common practice," he said. "But there's a strong police presence, so I don't think anybody will mess with anything."
Mogy said he feels safe while walking to and from class, thanks to the patrolling officers.
"It's pretty secure," he said. "Security guards and police routinely patrol the area."
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