Stolen Items Recovered by Ohio University Police Officer

Contact: Jack Jeffery, (740) 597-1793

ATHENS, Ohio (April 4, 2001) -- Proper identification of personal items and some dogged police work led to the recovery of a number of stolen items and the arrest of suspects in the thefts from Ohio University residence halls.

On Mar. 12, the Ohio University Police Department began investigating four thefts that occurred in Perkins and Gamertsfelder halls on campus. Property stolen from the four rooms included clothing, wigs, CDs, a camera, personal belongings and jewelry totaling more than $800.

Ohio University Police Officer Dave Valentine, following up on investigative leads obtained through a number of interviews, identified the suspects as two students who attend Edinboro University in Edinboro, PA. Officer Valentine traveled to Edinboro University, and with the assistance of officers from the Edinboro University Police Department and the Edinboro Municipal Police Department, recovered a number of the stolen items. The Edinboro students who are facing criminal charges are Phillip D. Erdos, 20, 218 Dearborn Hall, Edinboro, PA and Andrew K. Croulet, 21, 105 Banff Drive, Apt. 11, Edinboro, PA.

Valentine will be meeting with the Athens County Prosecutor's Office requesting the investigation be presented to the Athens County Grand Jury. In light of this investigation, students are encouraged to mark their personal property in a way that the items could be later identified. Students should also record identifiers such as serial numbers and model numbers that will assist in the recovery of personal property as happened in this investigation.