December 8, 2004

Gamecocks steal $18K worth of equipment

On December 1st, a crime blotter column in a local newspaper indicated that:

Computer and electronic equipment worth $18,000 wer[e] stolen from rooms at Williams-Brice Stadium between Nov. 23 and 24.

Joseph Person reports in The State today that "several upset USC players left Williams-Brice Stadium with $18,000 worth of video equipment and framed action photographs, according to sources."

The thefts apparently ocurred on November 22 after a meeting in which Athletic Director Mike McGee told the players they would not be going to a bowl game because of the brawl in the Clemson game 2 days earlier.

After the meeting, South Carolina players took 3 laptops, 2 projectors used to review game film and 12 framed photographs and some football helmets.

From today's article:

The Nov. 23 incident report states that "unknown person(s) by unknown means did remove the below listed items from the unsecured i/l (incident location)." The report lists the video equipment, valued at $14,400, that was stolen from meeting rooms at the stadium, and "twelve pictures taken off walls in the locker room area," each with an estimated value of $300.

According to a University spokesman, athletic department officials called University Police the day after the newspaper report of the thefts on December 1 to report the items had been returned. An athletic department spokesman confirmed players "might" have been involved in the thefts and that internal discplinary action was taking place.