Bike thieves caught red-handed

Early this morning, officers of the Oberlin Security Department and the Oberlin Police Department caught an individual in a van, hiding underneath a sheet of cloth that also covered six stolen bicycles.

The bicycles are the property of Oberlin College students, according to Sergeant David Alvarez of the Oberlin Security Department. Two bicycle owners have already been notified that their bicycles were found. Those students had filed statements earlier at the Oberlin Police Department about their stolen bicycles.

Four bicycles, however, have not been claimed. Director of Security Keith James is eager for students who have had their bicycles stolen to recover them at the Oberlin Police Department.

A series of events led to the arrest of one of the two suspected accomplices in the bicycle robberies.

At 1:10 a.m., a student in Fairchild House reported to security that he had spotted someone stealing his bike. Andrew Chappelle, a sophomore, said that he was in his room with several people when they "heard someone messing around with the bikes." They looked out the window and discovered that a man was in the process of stealing Chappelle's bicycle.

Chappelle said, "I put my shoes on and ran down after the thief. My roomate called security."

Chappelle's first instinct was to chase after the man who stole his bicycle. He said, "I ran around a couple of blocks, but it was kind of silly. I don't know what I would have done if I'd found him."

According to Chappelle, as he was chasing after the thief, he waved down a squad car driving around campus and proceeded to tell the officer about the event and jumped into the car. The officer and Chappelle could not find the thief, and Chappelle returned back to his room.

Another student called security at 1:26 a.m., reporting that her bike had been stolen from Wilder Hall.

Security officer Michael Lutz saw a van with two occupants driving around Oberlin College property nine minutes after the second call.. Lutz became suspicious. The Oberlin Police Department was informed of the van and officers quickly spotted the vehicle on Union Street.

The vehicle was checked by Oberlin Police Officer Tom Anadotis. He found six bicycles as well as an individual underneath a cover inside the van. Officers then questioned the individual and, according to Alvarez, "things didn't add up."

Chappelle was then requested by Security to come to the scene and identify his bicycle. Chapelle was also asked to identify the suspect being held in the squad car, but he said he could not identify the individual as the person who had seen in front .

Lutz said that the detained suspect admitted that he worked with an accomplice, and revealed his name to the officers. The remaining suspect is still at large.

The individuals under suspicion are not college students. Alvarez said their ages ranged from 20-22 years old.

Alvarez said, concerning the events that occurred early this morning, "The people on my shift did a real nice job, Michael Lutz, Louis Kasco and Dispatcher Mark Box."