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Sometime over spring break last week, a number of items were stolen from MacMurray College buildings, including a 600-pound safe from McClelland Dining Hall.

When students returned from break Monday, the College began receiving reports of residence hall rooms that had been entered and items stolen.

The college released a statment In response to these invasions.  They have taken action in the following ways:

- By midnight Monday, the College rekeyed the exterior locks to the four residence halls on campus so historic master keys will no longer open the doors.
- Contacted locksmiths to rekey the more than 150 individual room doors in the residence halls.
- Contacted private security to increase the presence of security officers and/or off-duty police officers on campus.
- Scheduled residence hall meetings Tuesday evening to answer questions and listen to student concerns.
- Offered counseling services to any student wishing to talk to a counselor.

Norris House and Kendall House, both near the corner of Hardin Avenue and Chambers Street, are where the thefts occurred.  The theft reports were confined to only the two halls.

The total number of thefts has not been determined, but there were several dozen unofficial reports by noon Tuesday.

There was no sign of forced entry into the residence halls or at the dining hall and the thieves are believed to have used a rear door of the dining hall, where there is a loading dock.

MacMurray students and faculty left for spring break Friday, March 4 and began returning to campus Monday, March 14.

MacMurray College has notified the Jacksonville Police Department, which has begun taking crime reports.  If you are a student who was robbed, we encourage you to file a police report.

Details about the items taken and about the investigation can be obtained from the Jacksonville Police Department.