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UA Bookstore keeps an eye on theft with undercover security

By Audrey DeAnda
Arizona Daily Wildcat,
September 10, 1999

Students entering the U of A Bookstore with thoughts of shoplifting should remember one fact: someone is watching you.

Since last week, six students attempting to steal from the bookstore, 1209 E. University Blvd., have been caught by undercover security guards. The items taken have ranged from an infant baseball cap to a package of batteries.

Cindy Hawk, the bookstore's senior program coordinator, said there seems to be a larger number of shoplifters at the beginning and end of each semester.

Hawk said security catches about one shoplifter a week.

"We have a camera system and we have a security department run by students," Hawk said.

Pam Buser, the head cashier at the bookstore, said she hardly notices shoplifters because she is so busy with all of the workers, but it is still her job to be aware of her surroundings.

"We're all responsible to look out for shoplifters and suspicious people," Buser said. "If we see someone suspicious, we'll call security."

The bookstore used to have theft detectors at the entrance, but Hawk said they were taken out a couple of years ago.

"We found it made the store look uninviting," Hawk said.

Buser said the bookstore once had a lot of backpack thefts, but now it is not as much of a problem.

The store takes extra precautions during "rush" - the first couple of weeks each semester when the store is extremely busy.

"During rush we have it set up where students can check in their backpacks," Buser said.

Though the bookstore only has one police officer during "rush," an undercover bookstore security guard said they always have employees on the sales floor and someone in the control room watching the security monitors.

The guard, who withheld his name for security purposes, said he has seen people try many interesting techniques while trying to steal things.

The security guard said earlier this year a professor was seen peeling something from his wallet and placing it on a textbook. The guard said the professor had taken a $15 Universal Product Code sticker and placed it on a textbook worth $65.

Although this case was fairly easy for bookstore security to catch, some instances require more patience.

"You can follow someone for an hour but you can't ever give up," the security guard said.

UAPD spokesman Brian Seastone said shoplifting under $250 is a class one misdemeanor and the maximum sentence is six months in jail and a possible fine of $2,500.

Hawk said the bookstore sends most of the shoplifters to the UA Dean of Student's Diversion Program, if it is their first offense.

Hawk said most students who work for the store's security department are criminal justice majors.

"It's a great opportunity for them because it's on-the-job training," Hawk said.


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