Employee tip leads UAPD to alleged Les Miz costume thief

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Head of wardrobe Annabell Seymour irons the costumes for the opening of Les Miserables at UA Centennial Hall. Thirty costumes were stolen two weeks ago valued at $1,000 to $4,000 each. The pilfered garments were recovered yesterday by university police officers.

University of Arizona Police Cmdr. Brian Seastone said officers arrested Brian F. Dermody, of the 3200 block of East Fort Lowell Road, after getting a tip from a UA Centennial Hall worker.

"We received information from a UA employee that they had overheard Mr. Dermody making statements that he had taken items from Centennial Hall," Seastone said.

Police obtained a search warrant, went to Dermody's home and arrived as he was getting into his car. Officers then entered Dermody's apartment and found the garments, Seastone said.

Two weeks ago, 30 custom-made Les Miserables costumes valued at $1,000-$1,500 each, were stolen from Centennial Hall. In November, $2,000 worth of costumes were pilfered from the musical Rent.

"It looks like he is the sole person responsible," he said. "As far as we know, we think everything has been recovered."

Although the stolen costumes belonged to the four main characters, the Les Miserables company continued performing during the Texas leg of its tour using understudy costumes.

Lan Marsh, company manager for Les Miserables, said he was "extremely excited and glad" that the costumes were recovered.

In a telephone interview from College Station, Texas, last night, Marsh said insurance would have covered the cost of the stolen costumes, but the crew was still relieved that UAPD recovered the garments.

Dermody was booked into Pima County Jail on two counts of third-degree burglary and two counts of felony theft. Bond was not set last night.