CrimeBriefs

 'Coffee man' saves the day

An employee reported that she lost a $50 black leather Coach wallet sometime between 3 a.m. and 4:41 a.m. March 25. The victim left the wallet in the bathroom in the gastrointestinal area of the Duke University Medical Center. An employee, who had been given the wallet by the "coffee man" on the fifth floor, brought the wallet to officers. The wallet had all its contents except for $100 in cash.

 Representation of a representation: gone

An employee reported the theft of a $100 picture of the production of "Pieces of Eight" March 26. The picture--positioned on a stairway wall in the Bivens Building by the entrance to room 109--was last seen March 25 at 3:30 p.m. and was discovered missing at 5 p.m.

 In pre-dawn hours, phone taken

A student reported March 26 that his cellular telephone had been stolen more than three weeks prior. The victim said he last saw his phone March 5 at 5 a.m. when he was visiting a friend in Edens 1C and discovered it missing March 5 at 11 a.m. The silver Verizon cell phone is valued at $150.

 Tool area ransacked by test light thief

An employee reported the larceny of a test light that was in the basement maintenance tool area of West-Edens Link 4A. The employee was in the area March 26 at 9:30 a.m. and said everything was in place. When he returned to the area March 26 at 2:48 p.m., he noticed damage to the gate, tool drawers opened and items out of place. The $20 yellow and black Ampax test light was the only item the victim found missing from his work area.

 Ladder, sign swiped

An employee reported the larceny of his ladder from Room 023 of the Art Museum. The victim last saw the ladder March 26 at 5 p.m. and noticed it missing March 29 at 8:00 a.m. A sign reading "Below Museum," used as a reference point for museum workers, was also discovered missing while the officer was speaking with the victim. The victim did not know the last time the sign had been seen or when the sign was removed. At 10:40 a.m. officers noticed a ladder that matched the description given by the victim, a 25 foot extension valued at $275, propped against the exterior wall of Bassett Dormitory. The victim was contacted and was able to identify his ladder. The ladder was returned to the victim. Leads on possible suspects are being investigated.

 Family feud results in assault

A visitor reported March 29 at 10:59 a.m. that he had been assaulted with a knife by his stepson March 26 at 3:30 p.m.. The visitor was sitting on a bench in the hallway outside the Wachovia Bank at Duke Clinics. His stepson happened to walk by and noticed the victim. The stepson pulled out a folding knife and stuck it towards the victim. The stepson also punched the victim in the face with his other hand, causing the chipping of one of the victim's teeth, as well as made verbal threats to the victim. The victim had not taken out any warrants.