2008 Woodie Awards
On-campus robbery causes concern
Eric Elizondo
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Other News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
|
Munk said she put her purse downstairs on a chair because she did not think she would be in the building very long before going upstairs with one of her students, senior studio arts and French major Francesca Bayegan.
She said she was only in the building for about 10 minutes when she heard someone moving around downstairs and then in her office.
She said she then yelled out, asking if anyone was there. Moments later she said a large, light-skinned black man wearing a yellow shirt and jeans entered the back office where she was with Bayegan and asked for directions to the registrar's office, which she provided.
"I could have been alone, or she [Bayegan] could have been alone, that's what really worries me," Munk said.
She said she felt that something was wrong and immediately went downstairs, which is when she noticed her wallet was missing.
"You start second-guessing yourself, maybe I left it in my car, or maybe I left it at my house," Munk said.
She said she then called campus security and reported the incident. However, Munk said that the security officers that responded to the scene did not notify the police.
"I called back around 1 p.m., after I had gone home to cancel my credit cards and make sure my wallet was not there and asked if they had notified the police, but they said that it was up to me if I wanted to get the police involved," Munk said.
Chief of Security Daryl Bissett said the officer simply made a mistake and that that issue has been addressed.
"Our standard practice is to contact outside authorities on behalf of the complainant when incidents involve crimes against persons or property," Bissett said. "The officer simply neglected to make the call to the outside authorities."
Munk said that she called the Harris County Constable's Office and an officer arrived quickly.
"Officer Hernadez told me that it was always best to call the police in situations like this because, with a good description, they might have been able to capture him," Munk said. "The man could not have gotten very far in the five minutes that it took the police to arrive, but since I waited so long, there was no chance of capturing him."