At least two more instruments were reported stolen last week from the music department despite repeated theft reports since Winter Break and requests from the department chair for tighter security. GW may start reimbursing theft victims for costs of stolen instruments students’ insurance will not cover, Risk Management Director Barry Dempsey said.

Freshman Adam Silverman reported his trombone, case and music books stolen March 5, a loss he estimates at $1,200. He had stored the items in a music department locker since Feb. 28.

Junior John Monroe said he had two saxophones worth about $800 each stolen from his locker in the music department in the last six months.

Monroe said the first instrument was taken in October, and the most recent theft occurred last week.

The thefts come after music students reported about $20,000 worth of instruments stolen from the department over winter break. University Police officials at the time suspected the job may have been an organized effort because similar reports arose at other area schools, including the University of Maryland.

The University does not plan to pay students back for the winter break thefts because Risk Management could not prove that GW “did or failed to do something that caused the theft or damage,” Dempsey said. In this instance, he said, more thefts in the same location with few security improvements may demonstrate GW’s negligence to protect student property.

UPD Associate Director Anthony RoccoGrande said there are security improvements in place and planned for the future. He said patrols have been increased in all three daily shifts and there are some security changes UPD does not want to release for security purposes.

Dempsey said no students have contacted his office about any of the theft this year.

Silverman said he plans to go to Risk Management if his insurance company does not cover his losses. To file a report with insurance, Silverman said he needs a UPD report, which he requested and paid $5 for March 6 but still has not received because he was told it is “still being processed.”

UPD and Hatchet reports indicate that recent incidents bring the total reported stolen instruments from the music department this year to at least 11. Officials from the music department estimate many more have been stolen in the last year but not reported.

“They normally steal flutes and trumpets, small instruments. But now is the first time they have stolen something as big as a trombone,” trombone instructor David Sciannella said.

All the thefts occurred in the basement of Phillips Hall, where lockers are available for students to store their instruments with mostly their own locks. Sciannella said the locks were cut off and the instruments were stolen during vacation and weekends.

Sciannella and music students said about 18 to 20 instruments have been stolen this year, with little to no security improvements.

“With all these thefts continuing, all we have seen as far as improved security is random walk-throughs by (University Police) every once in a while,” Sciannella said.

Music Department Chair Laura Youens declined to comment except to say she is working with UPD to find a solution to the department’s security needs.

Student Association senator Dan Moss (U-SBPM) said the SA introduced legislation after the winter break thefts that encourages the administration and UPD to improve security with cameras and better locks.

“The security down there is horrible,” Moss said, adding that senators plant to meet with UPD Director Dolores Stafford, who was out of town and unavailable for comment.

Dempsey said Risk Management sent a letter to a recent victim advising the student “to go through their insurance first, but to contact Risk Management about anything not covered by their insurance.”

Monroe and Silverman said they have not received letters.

“I don’t even know what Risk Management is,” Monroe said. “My parents were planning on sending a letter to the school, but if someone sent me a letter I haven’t gotten it yet.”

Monroe said he has not contacted his insurance company yet but plans to request compensation for the most recent theft.

Silverman, who takes a two-credit trombone lesson for one hour a week, said he has missed two lessons and might bring another trombone from home over Spring Break or borrow an instrument from the music department.

Silverman said he never thought to keep his instrument anywhere besides the instrument lockers.

“Nobody ever warned me at the beginning of the semester that there had already been over 15 instruments stolen from the lockers I was keeping my trombone in,” he said.

In a note posted on all the lockers after March 5, the music department now warns students not to keep anything of value in the lockers. The department advises students to take instruments with them when they leave, Youens said.

Some students and faculty members said a security camera would likely prevent the thefts or at least identify the criminal.

“I find it amazing that they have video cameras everywhere else on campus looking for students to do something bad, but when it comes to looking out for students and their property, they are not worried enough to put up a single camera,” Silverman said.

In a Jan. 17 Hatchet article, UPD Director Dolores Stafford said the department determines the need for security measures like cameras through security surveys and planned to upgrade security in the department.

Scianella said GW should claim responsibility for the thefts because the music department has made “numerous requests” for increased security.

“They should have installed a camera after the first stolen instrument was reported, not the 20th,” Sciannella said.

Despite the security lapses, some students still leave their instruments in the lockers over night.

“I am too lazy to carry my guitar around with me wherever I go; it is just too big and heavy,” freshman Erin Maguire said. “I wish they would have more security though. They do not even check to see if people walking down around here are in the music department. I have a special ID, but nobody ever asks to see it.”

Maguire said she would rather have her guitar stolen than have to carry it around.

“I checked and found out that my insurance covers my guitar in case of theft, so I leave it in the locker,” Maguire said.