Newspaper racks target of thieves

Five Daily Forty-Niner newspaper stands totaling more than $1,000 have been stolen from various campus locations.

The stands, ranging in cost from $200 to $300 each, were discovered missing by newspaper delivery personnel during their early morning rounds. University Police was notified about the missing property in early April.

The first stand was discovered missing near the College of Business Administration, but the remaining four stands were stolen from parking Lot C near the tennis courts.

"We kept replacing the stolen stands in Lot C but they kept coming up missing," said Georganne Sparks, business manager for the Daily Forty-Niner and University Magazine. "We finally stopped putting our stands there and we've since received a lot of complaints asking where the newspaper is."

University Police say they have no leads. "I have no idea what someone would do with a newspaper stand," police Detective Mike Wood said. "This has happened before. They should secure the stands with a chain and padlock."

Sparks said the business office is limited in options due to a tight budget. With stands costing several hundred dollars each, the journalism department can't afford to keep replacing stolen property. Better security measures also require a lot of money to implement, she said.

"It all costs money," Sparks said. "Yes, we could put together a proposal for a plan to lock these stands down, but money is a big factor."

Stolen newspaper stands create more than just money problems for the department. Nearly half of the 31 newspaper stands placed across campus are owned by outside advertisers who contract the stands out in exchange for poster displays attached to the stand.

"National advertisers provide the stands free of charge," said Sparks. "If we get a reputation of getting our racks stolen all the time, they may pull their advertising contracts."

Although the combined dollar amount of the stolen racks raises the crime into the ranks of grand theft, Sparks said she hopes the stands will be returned.

"If they return the racks, there will be no questions asked," Sparks said. "We'll just be happy to get the racks back, hopefully in good condition."