Monmouth College has again been the victim of theft, as two projectors were stolen out of academic buildings on Feb. 21.

The projectors were stolen out of room 112 in Wallace Hall and 423 in Haldeman-Thiessen Science Center (HT), according to audio-visual/information systems technician Chris Buban.

Monmouth had lost three projectors previously this semester, as two were lost over the weekend of Jan. 26-27, and one more on Jan. 30. As of Feb. 28, a total of five projectors were reported stolen by the College, each one costing approximately $1,500 to replace.

The most recent thefts on Feb. 21 were peculiar to the first three in late January, as they were stolen between the hours of 3 and 7 p.m on a day when classes were in session.

The projector that was stolen out of Wallace Hall was in a room that is across from Mauri Ditzler’s, Monmouth’s president, office with several windows. The perpetrators cut the wires of the projector, likely to enable a quick escape, according to Buban.

The projector that the bandits stole out of HT was literally pulled out from the ceiling, leaving an open hole where it used to be.

The perpetrators also tried to steal a projector out of HT 206, but their attempt failed.

Also noteworthy is that Monmouth’s security does not report to the school until 7 p.m. each night, so they cannot be held responsible for the most recent robberies.

Buban said that he filed a police report after the incident, and an investigation is still being conducted.

Monmouth College has taken steps to avoid future incidents, and Buban said the school ordered security systems after the initial robberies. Currently Monmouth has received 10 alarm systems, and technicians have already begun installing them to projectors around the campus.

Buban said the alarm systems will be set upon an attempted removal of the projector, and he is confident in their effectiveness.

Monmouth College is not the only school in the area that has suffered from the notorious projector bandit, as Knox College, Carl Sandburg College, Parkland College and Bradley University have also been victimized.

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