Eastern Michigan University students suspected in 5 break-ins

By Amalie Nash AnnArbor.com News Director

Posted on Mon, Nov 9, 2009 : 3:44 p.m.

Two Eastern Michigan University freshmen are suspected of committing at least five dorm room break-ins over a two week period, all involving unlocked rooms, police say.

The 18-year-old students were arraigned on break-in charges over the weekend involving two of those incidents.

Christopher Reid and Anthony Colucci remain jailed on burglary charges in the incidents, which occurred last Tuesday and Friday morning. They were arrested Friday morning based on surveillance footage from Phelps Hall, police said.

Since then, police have learned the two men are likely responsible for at least three other similar break-ins, EMU Police Chief Greg O'Dell said today.

Those break-ins occurred between Oct. 22 and last Friday, both in Phelps and Sellers residence halls, Lt. Robert Heighes said. In each case, the men entered unlocked rooms in the early morning hours and stole various items, including video game consoles and laptops, Heighes said.

Some of the items that were stolen have been recovered, Heighes said.

Heighes emphasized the importance of students locking their doors - a campaign at EMU that includes bulletins to students, a "gotcha" program to catch students who leave their doors unlocked and other measures.

"The key is that the doors were unlocked, making it easier for these crimes to occur," Heighes said.

Reid is being held on 10% of $30,000 bond. Colucci is being held on 10% of $40,000 bond because he is already on probation for underage drinking and marijuana possession, records show.

The two men will appear for a preliminary hearing Nov. 17.