CRIME BRIEFS

Man arrested for larceny

A student reported that around 2 p.m. April 12, she left her room located in West-Edens Link unsecured for about five minutes. She said that, upon her return, she saw a man leaving her room. As he was walking away he said, "Don't worry, I was just inspecting to make sure everything was okay." She entered her room and noticed a bottom desk drawer had been tampered with and that cash was possibly missing from her purse. She contacted Duke police.

The man was located on Duke University Road carrying two handbags. Subsequent investigation revealed that he was in possession of two $5,000 Dell laptop computers and a $500 Palm Pilot. This was property belonging to students that had been stolen from their unlocked rooms in the WEL.

George Ira O'Briant, 32, of 1913 House Ave., was charged with breaking and entering, larceny, first degree trespassing and possession of drug paraphernalia--a glass crack pipe--and placed under a $7, 500 secured bond. His court date is today. He could not be reached for comment.

The Duke University Police Department advises that community members keep their doors locked at all times in order to prevent crime.

Man charged with DWI

At 9:20 p.m. April 11, Duke police received a phone call in reference to a hit and run traffic accident at the intersection of Anderson Steet and Campus Drive, where a witness reported that he was almost struck by a suspect vehicle. The vehicle then stopped on Bynum Street and had sustained heavy damage from striking the fire hydrant at the corner of Anderson and Campus, as well as a bus stop sign.

Subsequent investigation resulted in the driver, Rodolfo Quezada, 31, of 2920 Chapel Hill Rd., Apartment 30B, being charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to stop at the scene of an accident and being a non-licensed driver. He was placed under a $1,000 secured bond and given an April 28 court date. Quezada could not be reached for comment.

Laptop taken from dorm room

A student reported that between 10:51 and 11:30 p.m. April 12, someone entered his unsecured room in Epworth Dormitory and stole his $2,900 Toshiba Satellite laptop computer. It is believed that entry may have been gained into the room by removing the box-fan from the partially opened window, or by way of the door, which has a broken handle.

Room entered, watch stolen

A student reported that between 1 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. April 12, someone entered her unsecured room in House GG and stole her $1,194 Movado watch, model 84G41824, white gold-black face circled by diamonds. It is believed that her roommate is also missing some items.

Laptop swiped

Sometime between 10:55 and 10:57 p.m. April 11, someone stole a student's $1,500 Macintosh laptop computer from a table in Perkins Library.

Purses raided

Someone stole money from three students while they were attending a Pi Beta Phi sorority meeting in the East Union Building between 4:10 and 4:42 p.m. April 6. One student reported that she left her wallet on a table in the hall near room 200, along with several other purses. Her wallet containing $30 in cash was stolen and later found in the garbage can on the first-floor women's restroom. The second victim had $40 in cash stolen from her purse. The third victim had $15 in cash stolen from her purse. They left their property unprotected.

Laptop stolen

An employee reported that between 5 and 6:15 p.m. April 9, someone entered the reception area of room 120, Duke Clinics, Green Zone, and stole his $2,200 Dell laptop computer, model CPXJ, tag number 7BECW, and a $50 black Dell power converter.

Employee charged with passing counterfeit money

At 7:58 p.m. March 30, a delivery driver for Rainbow China restaurant reported that counterfeit money--two $20 bills--were used to pay for food ordered by employees at the Emergency Department. Upon completion of the investigation, employee Tamika E. Moore, 28, of 906 North Alston Ave., was charged with forgery. Her bond was placed at $1,000 and she was given an April 8 first court appearance. Moore could not be reached for comment.

Palm pilots taken

A student reported that between 8 and 9 p.m. April 10, someone broke into his locker in Brodie Gym, and stole his $300 Toshiba E100 Palm Pilot with black leather case, $50 128 MB SD disc inserted in the Palm Pilot and $10 Master lock.

Sometime between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. April 9, someone entered conference room 2200 in the Medical Center and stole an employee's $300 M-7E Palm Pilot and $20 black leather Palm Pilot case.

Senior charged with crowded vehicle

At 10:35 p.m. April 12, Rizwan Ahmed Parvez, a senior, was observed driving on Erwin Road onto Anderson Road with his vehicle overloaded with passengers, blocking his view out of the rear window. He was charged with having an over-crowded vehicle and given a May 27 court date.

"By driving these people home, I eliminated the possibility that those people might have driven home drunk," Parvez wrote in an e-mail to The Chronicle. "I'm dissapointed that Duke police would find fault in that goal."

Windows broken

Sometime around noon April 12, two vehicles owned by visitors and parked in the Allen Building upper parking lot had windows, valued at $150 each, broken.

Light sensors stolen

A student reported that between 10 a.m. March 4 and 8 a.m. April 3, two $169 Hobo light intensity sensors--each one a clear plastic container with a microchip and metal loop brackets--attached to trees in Duke Forest, near Eubanks Road, were stolen.

Harassing phone call received

An employee reported that between 7 and 7:11 a.m. April 10, she received a harassing and threatening phone call from a former employee.

Crime briefs are compiled from Duke University Police Department reports. Anyone with knowledge about those responsible for these or other crimes at the University can contact Lt. Davis Trimmer at 684-4713 or Durham CrimeStoppers at 683-1200.