Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Improved Corp Security Pays Off

 

Following a string of thefts at Vital Vittles this school year, Students of Georgetown, Inc. has ramped up security measures at its stores. No additional thefts have been reported at the convenience store since January.
Following a string of thefts at Vital Vittles this school year, Students of Georgetown, Inc. has ramped up security measures at its stores. No additional thefts have been reported at the convenience store since January.

After Vital Vittles lost several thousand dollars in a string of thefts earlier this school year, new security features recently installed at the on-campus convenience store appear to be working.

More than $6,000 worth of cigarettes was stolen from the student-run grocery store over the course of three separate thefts on Sept. 1, Dec. 6 and Jan. 23, and $200 in cash was taken from the store’s office on Dec. 1.

The series of incidents prompted Students of Georgetown, Inc. to work with University Facilities and Student Housing and the Department of Public Safety to implement security measures designed to discourage further thefts.

According to Stephanie Wolfram (MSB ’13), The Corp’s chief operating officer, these measures have been successful in preventing further incidents at the convenience store. No thefts have been reported at Vital Vittles since the Jan. 23 incident.

Efforts to increase security at the store focused on installing new locks and ensuring that any broken locks were fixed.

“The Corp has worked with Facilities to make sure all doors have locks and [that] the structure is secure to prevent attempts to get into locked doors,” Wolfram said. “Facilities and DPS have been very helpful.”

The hallway behind Vital Vittles was an area of particular concern because the offices and storage areas there are not easily visible, which prevents employees from monitoring them closely.

These efforts are the most recent phase of ongoing security upgrades at various Corp locations. Last semester, security cameras were installed at Vital Vittles and Hoya Snaxa, enabling employees to provide investigators with images of theft suspects.

As an additional precaution, service directors have also encouraged staff members to exercise more awareness while on duty.

“[Staff] have stuck to the new plans to help with security and have been nothing but supportive of the new measures. It has been a great turnaround,” Wolfram said.

Wolfram added that The Corp continues to further enhance security at its stores.

“We will maintain the current level [of security] with only plans to increase surveillance,” Wolfram said. “[We’re] making sure that we do not become too complacent.”

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