 "Photo: UMPD")
 "Photo: UMPD")
Two suspects who allegedly broke into three University of Massachusetts dormitories and stole thousands of dollars worth of electronics Tuesday, reportedly have been falsely soliciting funds for a cancer foundation, according to the UMass Police Department.
Three parties reported to police Tuesday that someone had entered their dormitory rooms in the Central and Orchard Hill Residential Areas and stole electronics. The alleged larcenies occurred at the Brooks, Baker and Webster Residence Halls.
The two suspects began their alleged stealing spree in Brooks Hall and worked their way to Webster Hall, according to police. A camera in Brooks Hall captured photos of the suspects entering the dormitory.
Around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, the UMPD reported these suspects may have been soliciting cash funds for The Avon Breast Cancer Foundation - an organization that does not solicit cash, according to police.
In one of the images posted by the UMPD, one of the suspects is wearing a white tee shirt with the word "AVON" clearly visible on the front side of the shirt.
In a public safety alert, the UMPD urged anyone approached by a person(s) "soliciting cash donations for [The Avon Breast Cancer Foundation] or any other agency - please contact UMPD immediately."
By posting the photos online, UMPD Deputy Chief Patrick Archbald said he hopes people will come forward with information.
"We're fairly confident that someone's going to come forward with some more information," said Archbald. "If not identifying them, then giving us information about having seen them or having a conversation with them or saw a car they were driving."
The UMPD received the first report of larceny at 4:47 p.m. on Tuesday. The suspects entered Brooks Hall and allegedly opened the unlocked door of a student's room and proceeded to steal an Apple Powerbook G4 laptop worth about $2,000 and a camera.
About an hour later at 5:44 p.m., the second incident was reported to police. The suspects allegedly opened an unlocked door in Baker Hall and stole a laptop and an iPod from the two students who live in the room.
Several hours later at 8:49 p.m., a student in Baker Hall reported someone had entered into a room and stolen a wallet with cash and credit cards. This dorm room door was allegedly unlocked as well, and the rooms were empty at the time of the supposed larceny.
"The students are obviously trusting their floormates, but not aware of others in the dorm and access gained through the front door," said Archbald, who added that even opening an unlocked door without the occupant's permission is considered breaking and entering.
Archbald said his department was able to make the connection between the three incidents by speaking to witnesses and watching the video footage. He said digital surveillance cameras set up at the exits and entrances of dormitories have been effective in cases like this one.
"Now we can access these digital photographs so quickly, real-time," said Archbald. "We can pull up archives very quickly and we can start to tie cases together much quicker."
An e-mail sent to all UMass undergraduates around 1 p.m. yesterday provided information on the larcenies and two photos of the suspects entering Brooks Hall.
Eric Athas can be reached at editor@dailycollegian.com.
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