Posted Friday, Jan. 19, 9:24 p.m.

University Police are investigating a string of 21 thefts that occurred during winter break at Greek-letter housing units on 23rd Street.

UPD Chief Delores Stafford said some of the students who reported thefts had secured their rooms before leaving for break, while others had not. One case of theft during winter break was also reported in the Aston residence hall. Some cases reported visible signs of a forceful break-in, she said.

“We are very concerned about the property being stolen from various rooms,” Stafford wrote in an e-mail Friday. “We patrolled all of the residence halls throughout the break and the officers did not see anything suspicious happening in those units.”

The Alpha Phi sorority, located in Townhouse B, is one of the four Greek-letter houses where theft occurred. Stafford did not specify which other Greek-letter group’s townhouses were broken into.

“It’s very upsetting to have one’s personal space violated,” said junior Julia King, president of Alpha Phi.

King said eight members of the sorority have reported stolen items from their individual rooms. The items include flat screen TVs, designer purses and Bose iPod speakers, she said. No items from the ground floor were taken, and there were no signs of a forceful break-in to the Alpha Phi house. King also added that no students remained in or had access to their townhouse unit over break.

“There were people living in some of the units over the break, so there was student activity in the building,” Stafford said. UPD is asking for assistance from people who were on campus during break and may have witnessed suspicious behavior.