Early Sunday morning, an improvised security camera set up by graduate students working in the Hansen Experimental Physics Lab (HEPL) captured the image of a thief who may be connected to the string of burglaries that have taken place in a cluster of natural sciences buildings nearby. The video prompted Francisco LePort, a fourth-year graduate student in physics, to distribute an open letter calling for President Hennessy to tighten security at HEPL.

The video showed an unknown man in the doorway of Prof. Mark Kasevich’s lab in HEPL’s End Station III, which was shrouded by a plastic sheet to keep out dust. With his body obscured by the plastic, the thief put on a construction worker’s helmet, shrouded his face and then walked into the lab, where he tilted the camera towards the ceiling and proceeded to steal valuable electronics testing equipment.

This theft, the latest in a string of burglaries, prompted LePort, who also works in End Station III, to call for action.

“In my opinion, the University is not doing enough to protect us,” reads one paragraph of the letter, which was also distributed over physics-related lists. “At least eight thefts have occurred in the past several months. There are probably many more I am not aware of. Consider the possibility that one of us runs into this thief the next time he visits one of our buildings. The consequences could be fatal.”

LePort’s petition arose from concerns he had about his personal safety.

“I work in that building daily. All of April we were running 24 hour shifts, and I was there overnight,” he told The Daily. “At one point I was there when an actual theft occurred. I was sitting on the floor right above when the guy comes down, breaks in and does whatever he’s doing. I’m lucky that I didn’t go down and check on some sort of instrument.”

LePort claimed that the University’s visible response to the thefts has been minimal.

“The response I’ve seen consists of promoting intelligence about the thefts, making sure that doors are locked and nothing is propped open over the weekend,” he said. “For about a week, a security guard was roaming the physics department after one of the thefts, but that’s about it. That security guard has since disappeared.”

As of Wednesday, LePort had not received a reply from the President, though he did get reassurances from the Chief of Police and the Office of Risk Management.

“They’ve assured me and I’m sure it’s true, that statistically speaking, if the guy runs into people he’s not going to hurt anyone and that the chances of running into him are pretty low,” he said. “He seems to avoid people and come when no one’s around. But I don’t want to bet anything.”

Jeff Wachtel, senior assistant to the President, explained that the University has been taking the case seriously, though he refused to speak in specifics in order to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing investigation.

“We’re taking the steps very seriously. The Department of Public Safety has been conducting an investigation and there is enhanced monitoring of the building,” he said. “The safety of our students is our first priority.”

Michael Killian, facilities manager for HEPL, estimated for the Palo Alto Daily News’ May 16 article on the thefts that the facility has lost $400,000 worth of equipment in at least eight break-ins since September. The objects taken tend to be scientific equipment, such as spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes and voltmeters, which can be used in a variety of electrical endeavors. When contacted by The Daily on May 17 for further comment, Killian said that he has been asked by University administrators not to discuss the thefts with any members of the press.

In addition to the thefts at HEPL, the Stanford University Department of Public Safety’s Public Bulletin recorded six burglaries at Ginzton Labs, five at the Durand Building, three at the Gilbert Biological Sciences Building, three at Herrin Labs, two at the Varian Physics Building and two at the Mudd Chemistry Building since Feb. 13. Although some of these burglaries focused on laptops and personal items, scientific equipment was also taken from all of the buildings.

Citing the ongoing investigation, the Stanford police department refused to comment on the thefts.

To report any suspicious activity in the building, immediately call 911 (9-911 from a University phone or (650) 329-2413 from a cell phone). To report information about the thefts or other helpful information, contact Detective Mark Trueblood from SUDPS at (650) 724-9396.