Campus police apprehend theft suspect a third time

University Police helped capture an alleged career criminal who specialized in backpack theft and frequented college campuses, including Cal State Long Beach, police said.

Tung Doan, a 29-year-old Vietnamese male, was arrested on charges of possession of stolen property and resisting arrest early this month. The suspect, who was arrested twice before at CSULB, now awaits trial at Long Beach Municipal Court.

Police say a library employee reported Doan after recognizing him from a posted photo. According to officer Walter Focht, the suspect wedged a wallet between seat cushions where he sat while being questioned, then fled.

Focht apprehended Doan outside the library. Officers later recovered the hidden wallet containing stolen credit cards and identification cards.

According to Investigator John H. Bellah, Doan may have had a more elaborate operation than first believed. Doan allegedly targeted Asian victims, intending to use their identification cards to establish fake credit, set up bank accounts and cash forged checks.

"There may be more involved.The investigation is still ongoing,said Bellah.

Bellah also said Doan may have had an accomplice who used female victims'credit cards and identification cards. University police are working on an investigation with the Seal Beach Police Department, where he was wanted for commercial burglary.

Backpack theft is common on college campuses. On the first day of classes, an unattended backpack was stolen from in front of the University Bookstore.

Sgt. Bonnie Myers, crime prevention officer, says students can prevent these types of crimes by simply not leaving their backpacks unattended.

"[People in] the university community feel that once they walk onto campus they are in a protective cocoon. They need to use the same awareness that they would use if they were off campus.Ó