State Police trace mailroom theft to Shoreham resident

Author: Kathryn Flagg

Local Shoreham resident Steven Browne was cited recently for allegedly cashing stolen checks, three of which have been traced back to the College's mailroom, the Department of Public Safety reported on Tuesday. Vermont State Police cited Browne to appear in court on four counts of forgery after supposedly cashing the checks in Burlington, Bristol and other nearby townships.

The ongoing investigation signals significant headway on a handful of the thefts that have riddled College dining halls and the student mailroom since January.

"We're very happy that the State Police have been able to solve at least some of these crimes," said Dan Gaiotti, assistant director of Patrol Operations for Public Safety.

According to Gaiotti, Browne used student identification cards and driver's licenses stolen from bags outside of College dining halls to cash the checks, which officials believe were taken from unlocked student mailboxes. State Police contacted the College roughly two weeks ago, after identification material belonging to College students was uncovered during the investigation of an off-campus theft.

Although investigations into other on-campus thefts, including a spate of paycheck thefts that occurred in November, are still ongoing, news of the citation is gratifying to members of the Department of Public Safety.

"At least there has been some headway made," Gaiotti said.

Gaiotti did stress that the citation should serve as a reminder to students to be attentive to the security of their personal belongings.

Sergeant Lee Hodsden with the New Haven barracks, who directed the investigation, was unavailable for comment at time of press. Officials at the New Haven barracks declined to comment and were unwilling to provide further details of the investigation.