In the most recent episode in a month-long series of thefts, the self-dubbed "Latex Looter" recently stole condoms from every Residential Counselor in Perkins Hall.
RC Jennifer Donnelly '08 said she opened her desk drawer Friday evening intending to replenish the nearly empty construction paper pocket on her door, only to find three boxes of Durex Variety Pack condoms missing. In their place, she found one Trustex grape-flavored condom signed by the "Latex Looter" himself in glow-in-the-dark ink. There was no sign of a forced entry.
After Donnelly informed her fellow Perkins RCs of the incident, they went to their rooms to donate some of their own condoms, only to find them replaced by a signed, grape-flavored condom identical to the one used in the raiding of Donnelly's supply.
"I just wanted to keep my freshmen safe," Donnelly said between sobs, referring to those first-years who decided to stay on campus for break. "I'm so worried about them. It's their spring break, too," she added.
"Whoever (the Latex Looter) is, he's malicious," said Larry Murkin '08, another Perkins RC, as he comforted Donnelly Friday night. Murkin said he had received two boxes of Lifestyles Tuxedo Condoms in the mail just one day before the attack. "I like to keep my freshmen classy," he said. "Apparently the Latex Looter is against students exhibiting good taste over spring break."
But a Herald investigation of the Looter's activities revealed that such incidents began occurring well before the start of spring break. Students across campus reported opening a desk drawer, shoebox or old retainer case only to find a lone, grape-flavored condom signed by the culprit in place of their condom stash. Not a single student reported signs of forced entry, although several students said they never leave their rooms unsecured.
The Department of Public Safety's weekly police logs, however, have not included such incidents. The plundering of Perkins was the first rubbery brought to the attention of DPS, Chief of Police Mark Porter said.
"Students should not be afraid to report the thefts to DPS," Porter said. "If we have recorded incidents, we can identify trends, such as where and when the thief is likely to strike," he said.
But one student who wished to remain anonymous said he would not report the theft of over 200 condoms from his room. "What if my parents read my name in the e-mail edition of The Herald they get every morning?" he said. "The last time I talked to my parents about condoms was when they found my stash in a pillowcase under my bed junior year in high school," he said. "That was awkward," he added.
DPS officers are now stationed outside of Health Services, one of the few buildings on campus yet to be visited by the Looter. But keeping ill-doers out may be difficult, Lynn Dupont, assistant director of Health Services, told The Herald. "We have floods of students coming here for our condoms now," she said. "How do we know one of them isn't the same person who endangered our innocent freshmen?" she asked. Despite her fears that the Looter may infiltrate the Health Services Building, Dupont said she would keep doors open to any visitors. "Students have no one else to turn to in their time of need," she said.
The rash of condom thefts comes at a particularly bad time, Dupont said, as the spring season, with its "onslaught of girls in short skirts, not to mention Spring Weekend," has been affectionately dubbed "mating season" by some Health Services staffers.
"I guess we're just going to have to stock up on emergency contraception and hope for the best," she sighed.
