After a string of recent thefts last week in the Owens Fine Arts Center, the SMU Police responded to a call concerning a suspicious person lurking around the location.

“We have stuff that occasionally shows up missing, where students may leave a backpack in a practice room or lying around,” said Jay Hengst, facilities manager for the Meadows School of the Arts. “This time it happened one right after another for a week. We knew we had someone around here that was doing it.”

According to police reports, Damone Motton was found looking through lockers in the building’s south end basement level. Motton originally identified himself as a student, but a check of enrollment showed that he was not.

After Motton agreed to have his bag searched, police discovered that the backpack, as well as several items it contained, had been reported as stolen to the SMU Police. Police issued Motton a criminal trespass warning, arrested him and took him to the University Park jail.

“When he was arrested, it was for Class B theft, which is an offense which could put him in jail for at least one year,” said Capt. Mike Snellgrove of the SMU Police Department. “This all depends on the total amount we can contribute to him.”

The Owens Fine Arts Center is taking a few extra precautions to protect property in the building by sending emails and posting notices to remind staff and students to watch after their things.

“We are the largest building on campus,” Hengst said. “We keep it pretty safe around here and have managers that staff this building all hours of the week.”

The SMU Police Department continues to stress the importance of being careful with personal possessions and to be alert about suspicious people.

“The most important thing for everyone to remember is don’t leave your valuables unsecured for even a few minutes,” Snellgrove said. “This is the number one problem on our campus. Lock doors, take valuables with you, report strangers, and if you are a victim of crime, report this immediately.”