By Bryon Wells
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 25, 1998

Police Beat

Two UA students reported their backpacks stolen during a one-hour period Monday from two floors in the Science-Engineering Library, 744 N. Highland Ave.

The first student told university police he left his backpack at a fifth-floor table at 3:20 p.m. and went to the men's room.

When he returned 10 minutes later, his $10 backpack, containing $5 cash, an ATM card, checkbook and notebooks was missing, police reports stated.

When police arrived to investigate the first theft, another student told the officer that her backpack had just been stolen as she napped on the fourth floor, reports stated.

The student said she fell asleep about 3 p.m. and awoke an hour later to find her $40 backpack missing, along with its contents, a $40 day planner, a $25 textbook and a $20 pair of Nike shorts, reports stated.

Police conducted a check of the building at 4:50 p.m. and found the first student's belongings-minus the cash, checkbook and ATM card - ditched on the fourth floor, reports stated.

The officer also located the other student's backpack and belongings on the fourth floor and returned them, but did not see anyone suspicious in the area.

A Green Valley woman told university police she thought she was pick-pocketed Friday at the UA Associated Students Bookstore, 1209 E. University Blvd.

The woman said she noticed her driver's license, social security and Visa cards missing as she left campus after shopping at the bookstore about 11:20 a.m., police reports stated.

The woman told police she used her credit card at the bookstore and then put it into an open pocket in her purse with the other cards.

According to reports, the woman did not see anybody take her cards, and had already contacted the corresponding agencies to notify them of the loss.

University police Monday responded to a collision involving a van and a bicyclist on East Ring Road near North Warren Avenue.

Joseph J. Levine, 24, of the 2000 block of North First Avenue, was riding west in the bike lane of Ring Road at 6:14 p.m. approaching Warren Avenue when he noticed a van backing out of a driveway, police reports stated.

Levine could not see the van right away because a Dumpster blocked his vision, reports stated.

The van struck the bicycle's rear wheel, knocking Levine to the pavement and scraping his left knee.

When police arrived minutes later, Tucson Fire Department paramedics were treating Levine's leg for a minor cut, and the driver of the van, Edward McCain, address and age unknown, had left the scene, reports stated.

Levine told police he obtained McCain's phone number and would call to see if he is willing to pay for the damage to his rear wheel, reports stated.

A student reported Monday that a phone sex salesman has been making harassing phone calls to his room at Hopi Lodge, 1440 E. Fourth St.

The student told university police he got a call at 3 a.m. Sunday and two calls Monday. The calls were traced to a 1-900 three-party sex line, police reports stated.

The student told police he was able to trace the calls and wants to press charges because this was the second occurrence in three days.

University police recovered stolen UA property Sunday when South Tucson police stopped a reported stolen car at East Vail Road and North 38th Street.

University police arrived at the intersection at 6:40 p.m. where officers had stopped a 1979 Nissan 280ZX allegedly taken in a knife-point car-jacking Saturday, police reports stated.

The driver of the car gave numerous aliases at first, but was later identified as Albert M. Canez, 25, of a general delivery address, reports stated.

In the car's hatchback, South Tucson police found a case containing 14 video cassettes and an oscillator, which belongs to the University of Arizona Engineering Department, reports stated.

Canez was booked into the Pima County Jail on an armed robbery charge and was being held on a $10,000 bond.

University police contacted an engineering employee to claim the stolen gear, and the 280ZX was returned to its owner.

Police Beat is compiled from official University of Arizona Police Department reports.