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Higgins Hall evacuated after 6th bomb threat at W.I.U.
Posted: 11.12.2010 at 7:17 AM Updated: 11.12.2010 at 9:35 AM
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Police increase presence

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MACOMB, ILL. -- UPDATE from WIU: November 12 at 1:57 p.m.

Additional police officers have been hired and assigned to patrol all Western Illinois University residence halls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice.

Students living in the residence halls will be required to show a current WIU I.D. when entering the building.

Students will be informed as to which building entrance to use.

Illinois State Police officers are also patrolling campus.

Guests must be signed  in and show a valid I.D.

Individuals who are not signed in as a registered guest will be considered to be trespassing.

"In order to deal with the current situation, we are putting additional security measures in place," Office of Public Safety Director Bob Fitzgerald said. "By having an enhanced resident and guest policy in place, as well as one entrance only, this allows law enforcement personnel and hall staff to more closely monitor individuals who are in the building."

The investigation continues into the threats that have occurred in various halls on the WIU-Macomb campus since Nov. 4.

Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) continue to work with police officials.

Individuals with information about the recent threats should contact the Office of Public Safety at (309) 298-1949 or publicsafety@wiu.edu.

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UPDATE: November 12 at 9:33 a.m.

Officials at Western Illinois University hope some cash will help catch the person responsible for half a dozen bomb threats in recent weeks.

Anyone with information leading to an arrest is now eligible for up to $10,000 through Western's "Stop the Threat" fund.

University administrators, Macomb residents and others have donated to the fund.

WIUM Radio in Macomb reports that the sixth bomb threat was found on a note in the Higgins Hall dormitory late Thursday.

Police swept the building, and students were allowed back in shortly after midnight.

The bomb threats began on Oct. 25. Police arrested an 18-year-old Chicagoan after the first incident. He is awaiting trial on a felony disorderly conduct charge and has been banned from the WIU campus.

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A sixth anonymous bomb threat lead to the evacuation of Higgins Hall Thursday night just before 11:30 pm.

According to a news release on the W.I.U website, the Office of Public Safety issued the evacuation order to Higgins Hall as a precaution.

Officials believed that this threat like all the others so far,was a prank.

After a complete search of the building, students were allowed back in around 12.20 Friday morning.

As we reported to you on Thursday, the F.B.I. is on campus assisting with the investigation into these threats.

Anyone found guilty could face fines and jail time.

If a student is involved they could be expelled from school.

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