Safe stolen in latest theft

Thieves hit IU's School of Music again this weekend, but the school now says it is working on replacing the compromised locks.\nPolice said a 55-pound combination-lock safe was taken from the music practice building late Saturday night.\nThis robbery follows the thefts of a $20,000 violin, a $5,000 violin bow, $5,400 of video equipment, cash taken from the music school dean's desk and last week's assault on music school janitor Kaylif Bennett.\nThe $30,000 to $40,000 estimated price tag to replace the locks has already been equaled and nearly surpassed by the property loss.\nRoyce Deckard, budget director for the School of Music, said he wants to have the replacement project completed and most music buildings secure by the beginning of next semester.\n"I don't know what the time frame is, but we've got a plan," Deckard said. "I don't want to tip anybody's hand as to where we're going to start or what we're going to do, but I think the Physical Plant is going to work overtime to get this accomplished."\nDeckard said the school has been working on the idea of re-keying jeopardized locks since the thefts started, but since there are so many locks to re-key, it could take a long time.\n"There may be more restrictions to building access," Deckard said. "We try to accommodate our students and we hate to impose restrictions, but we may have to."\nSecurity checkpoints and camera surveillance are all possible theft deterrents, Deckard said, but he wouldn't go into specifics to protect the new security plan from burglars.\nGwyn Richards, dean of the School of Music, said he has been constantly updated about the situation.\n"I think everybody in the school has been affected in one way or another, so I think it's of the utmost importance to get this resolved as soon as possible," Richards said. "We've been in contact with the (IU Police Department) and have been having daily faculty meetings regarding the issue."\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said there were no signs of forced entry in the latest robbery, but that doesn't necessarily mean the missing master keys were used to gain access.\n"We are certainly considering the possibility that each of these larceny are related," Minger said. "But it doesn't mean we can count out other possibilities."\nPolice and music school officials said they did not know the contents of the stolen safe.\nThe IUPD has increased its patrols near the music school premises with more uniformed officers, Minger said.\n"More uniformed officers may deter suspects from committing anymore crimes," Minger said. "We are following procedures and hope that will lead us to our suspect, but we can't make the School of Music change their locks. That is up to them."\nKarel Butz, a second year master's student at the School of Music, said the thefts have become the hot topic buzzing all over the music school.\n"I won't let my equipment out of my sight," Butz said. "There haven't been any updates from the music school since the original e-mail, but generally the School of Music is safe ... you just always have to be careful."\n-- Contact senior writer Mitch Blacher at mblacher@indiana.edu.