The robberies in the Fitzgerald Gym's men's locker room appear to have ended, according to athletic director Richard Wettan and Pedro Pineiro, the director of Queens College's Office of Security and Public Safety.
On Nov. 10, the Office of Security and Public Safety warned students, through e-mail, about lock tampering, after six thefts in the men's locker room took place over the course of a week.
There has been one other report of a stolen item, on Nov. 24, but it was an iPod from the women's locker rooms.
"The student whose iPod was stolen used a combination lock," said Pineiro.
It was reported to the 107th Police Precinct, which has been tracking developments in the case.
Since the outbreak of thefts in the Fitzgerald Gym, QC security and the athletics department teamed up to post signs throughout the gym and Klapper Hall, cautioning students against using combination locks, which are more susceptible to break-ins than key locks.
"I think the publicity did it," said Wettan, referring to the warning flyers and the subsequent decrease in thefts. "The best thing to do is to be open. We wanted people to protect themselves."
Pineiro said that since the stolen iPod incident, "An officer has been sitting outside the women's locker room and security has been constantly patrolling the area."
Wettan said he personally has not heard of anyone else complaining about missing items from the gym's locker rooms. There was only one incident in which a student left his belongings upstairs, unlocked, to find that items were missing upon his return.
"I doubt it's the same person. It could have been anyone," said Wettan. "It was foolish on his part [for leaving his locker unsecured]."
The athletics department ordered key locks for students seeking to securely store their belongings.
In November, a student expressed concern about the costs of new key locks. He said students should not have to spend any more on locks.
"First of all, I think the locks cost three dollars," said Wettan. He added that the college is not seeking to profit from lock sales.
"Have one less Coke and protect your valuables. It's not like it's an everyday purchase," Wettan said.
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