UA Student caught with stolen antennas
Jack Willems
Issue date: 2/5/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
A UA student stole 37 car antennas over the Christmas break and now faces charges of theft of property, public intoxication and possession of an instrument of crime, a police department official said.
Police officers found Thomas Alderson tampering with a car Jan. 11 at 2:30 a.m. in lot 36, said Lt. Gary Crain, UAPD public information officer. Alderson had a pair of pliers and 37 antennas with him, Crain said.
"It is our belief that he did do it all that night," Crain said.
Police believe alcohol was the contributing factor to this crime, said Crain, who estimated the damage caused by Alderson to be $370, about $10 per antenna. The damage done was minimal since the antennas were screwed out instead of torn out, he said.
There is no way to protect yourself from this crime unless you take your antenna with you, Crain said.
"Fortunately, people do not usually act this way," he said.
Anyone missing an antenna should come in to the UAPD and see if their antenna was stolen, Crain said.
Stolen antennas were not the worst damage done to cars of campus in January, Crain said. A man named Brian Weber was arrested on charge of aggravated assault and reckless driving after he drove his box truck in the general direction of bystanders, Crain said.
Weber ran off the road at the intersection of Garland Street and Maple Street, hitting a light pole and a flower box, Crain said. When people came to see if Weber was injured, he drove in their general direction, Crain said. Weber then drove on the sidewalk along Garland Street before getting back on the road, Crain said. He then attempted to turn right onto Dickson Street before the damage to his vehicle stopped him from continuing, Crain said.
"Nobody was hurt, thank goodness," Crain said.
While the police were still doing a blood sample test, alcohol has been ruled out as a factor, Crain said. Weber caused $6,000 worth of damage to his truck, $2,000 worth of damage to the light pole and $200 worth of damage to the flower box, Crain said.
Police officers found Thomas Alderson tampering with a car Jan. 11 at 2:30 a.m. in lot 36, said Lt. Gary Crain, UAPD public information officer. Alderson had a pair of pliers and 37 antennas with him, Crain said.
"It is our belief that he did do it all that night," Crain said.
Police believe alcohol was the contributing factor to this crime, said Crain, who estimated the damage caused by Alderson to be $370, about $10 per antenna. The damage done was minimal since the antennas were screwed out instead of torn out, he said.
There is no way to protect yourself from this crime unless you take your antenna with you, Crain said.
"Fortunately, people do not usually act this way," he said.
Anyone missing an antenna should come in to the UAPD and see if their antenna was stolen, Crain said.
Stolen antennas were not the worst damage done to cars of campus in January, Crain said. A man named Brian Weber was arrested on charge of aggravated assault and reckless driving after he drove his box truck in the general direction of bystanders, Crain said.
Weber ran off the road at the intersection of Garland Street and Maple Street, hitting a light pole and a flower box, Crain said. When people came to see if Weber was injured, he drove in their general direction, Crain said. Weber then drove on the sidewalk along Garland Street before getting back on the road, Crain said. He then attempted to turn right onto Dickson Street before the damage to his vehicle stopped him from continuing, Crain said.
"Nobody was hurt, thank goodness," Crain said.
While the police were still doing a blood sample test, alcohol has been ruled out as a factor, Crain said. Weber caused $6,000 worth of damage to his truck, $2,000 worth of damage to the light pole and $200 worth of damage to the flower box, Crain said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Randy Garrirson
posted 2/05/07 @ 11:43 PM EST
Tommy Alderson is a good-hearted young man. I have know him ever since he was a wii little boy. I believe stress from hard work at school, late night television, and chilly winter weather were the only major contributing factors. (Continued…)
RandyRandy
James A. DuChutney
posted 2/06/07 @ 2:11 AM EST
I agree with that!
Ross Weems
posted 2/09/07 @ 5:39 PM EST
I have known Mr. Alderson awhile now. And, I truly believe in the bottom of my heart, that if he HAD taken those antennas, that he had a darn good reason. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 2/10/07 @ 2:42 AM EST
The guys that posted before me are obviously making light of a very serious matter. I've known Tommy Alderson for a few years now. Tommy is a failure at life. (Continued…)
Randy Garrirson
posted 2/10/07 @ 10:42 AM EST
That last comment made was completely unneccisary.
There was clearly no good motive behind it. The person saying that statement was for someone's "own good" is self-righteous and utterly delusional. (Continued…)
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