Music school robbed again

After a string of thefts last semester, the IU School of Music was struck yet again over the holiday weekend.\nA lockbox containing cash and checks from the "Nutcracker" musical proceeds was stolen from room 308 in the Musical Arts Center during the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.\nThe lockbox contained more than $1,000 in cash and checks from the ballet, IU School of Music faculty member Doricha Sales said.\nIU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger said the date of the theft is unknown because it was not noticed until after the holiday. \nVirginia Cesbron, chair of the music school department, reported the box's theft Tuesday morning.\nThere was no forced entry into the room, according to the police report.\n"Because of MLK, the office was open, and there were people in and out (during the weekend)," Minger said. \nLast October, a 55-pound safe, a $20,000 violin, a $5,000 bow and nearly $5,000 of video equipment were stolen. A set of the school's master keys was stolen at the end of last August as well. Police suspect whoever stole the keys has been involved in the thefts.\nMinger said the police are investigating the loss to see if the recent theft is related to those of last semester.\n"We haven't ruled out that possibility because the specific office space was contained in the same building," Minger said. "We haven't determined yet if (the master) keys worked there. The lock box was kept behind the counter on the shelf, and the room was secure." \nSales said the locks on that particular door had been changed since the initial thefts last October.\nMinger said he hasn't ruled anything out at this point.\n"It could have been an employee, it could have been a passerby, it could have happened over the weekend with keys that could have been compromised."\nMembers of the music school faculty said they are fairly certain the thefts are linked.\n"I would assume (the thefts are linked)," Sales said. "But it wasn't an instrument in our case, it was cash."\nThe stolen "Nutcracker" receipts have set the music school population on edge once again.\n"You would expect that (the music school) would keep everyone's instruments and things safe," junior pianist Joseph Bercovici said. "It's upsetting, and I hope they do something." \nStudents are watching their belongings at all times, some said.\n"I bring my violin with me every single day now," junior violinist Brittany Cotto said. "I just leave my books in my locker now because I can't take any chances now so I have been taking it back and forth on the stadium bus. It's kind of a pain, but I'd rather have that than it get stolen."\nMusic students don't believe the perpetrator could be another musician. \n"I don't know who would steal violins and stuff, it's like a part of someone. If you lose your violin, it's like losing a child," Cotto said. "I could never imagine doing that to someone."\nAnyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the IUPD at 855-4111.