Bike stolen in front of Newhouse
A bicycle was stolen in front of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications midday Monday, said Department of Public Safety Chief Anthony Callisto. The suspect yelled that he had a gun after a Newhouse staff member confronted him, but there was no gun shown, Callisto said, citing the DPS report. The suspect fled on the bike and has not been arrested, Callisto said Monday evening.
This bicycle larceny adds to the multiple crimes committed in the past two weeks on Syracuse University’s campus. Three bikes were stolen in front of Shaw Hall Aug. 29, and there have been five burglaries on South Campus in the past seven days on Small Road.
Callisto said DPS officers were dispatched to the Newhouse School at 11:52 a.m. Monday. When they arrived, an SU student reported witnessing a man trying to steal a red mountain bike on the upper patio between Newhouse I and Newhouse II. The bike was linked to the railing by a bicycle lock.
Callisto added that a Newhouse staff member also witnessed the incident. The staff member looked out of his office window to see a male take out a large red bolt cutter from his backpack and cut through the bike lock, Callisto said.
The staff member went outside and yelled to the man to get his attention, but the man started to walk away with the bike and reportedly said, ‘What are you, a cop?’ as he rode the bike down the stairs below the patio. As he rode away, toward Irving Avenue, he yelled that he had a gun, Callisto said.
The staff member and the student witness confirmed in the police report that the suspect had been wearing a blue baseball cap with an SU logo. The staff member said the suspect still had the bolt cutters in his hands as he rode away.
‘We’ve had bicycle larcenies in the past, and often people will dress up to look like students,’ Callisto said. ‘Usually these crimes are not committed by students.’
DPS was unable to find the suspect, he said. The Syracuse Police Department also responded to the call, but DPS will continue the investigation.
Callisto said DPS does not know the owner of the bike, as no one had reported a stolen bicycle as of Monday evening.
Published on September 8, 2008 at 12:00 pm
