LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s detectives are asking the public to help find a woman suspected of using a credit card stolen from a college student to buy gift cards worth $600 from Lafayette area merchants.

Surveillance image from Meijer on September 17, 2009

On September 17th of this year, Cassandra McKeown, a student at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, had her credit card stolen. Det. Pat Williamson of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department is investigating that theft. He contacted the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office when he discovered the credit card had been used at numerous businesses in Lafayette.

The credit card was used at Target to purchase gift cards totaling $200. The suspect also purchased gift cards in the amount of $200 at Shoe Carnival and $200 more in gift cards at Meijer.

Detectives have been unable to identify the suspect seen in the surveillance photos and are turning to the public for their help.

Surveillance image from Shoe Carnival

The black female who used the stolen credit card is seen in the photos wearing a yellow short sleeve shirt and has a child with her. The store clerk said the suspect had a tattoo on her neck that said “Jason.”

If you have any information about this female please contact Detective Nathan Brown at the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office, (765) 423-9388. Or, you can contact the We-Tip Hotline anonymously at 1-800 78-Crime.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue police arrested a man on Thursday (Sept. 10) in connection with the alleged theft of nearly $3,000 worth of items from a house on Russell Street shared by three university students.

Timothy Leung, 20, a sophomore in the College of Technology from Hinsdale, Ill., was charged with felony burglary and theft after his arrest late Thursday afternoon.

According to a report, the roommates called police on Tuesday (Sept. 8) evening after noticing several CDs, DVDs, a guitar and electronics equipment were missing.

The roommates later discovered that someone was trying to sell items similar to those taken from their house. Police arranged to meet the seller to buy a guitar. According to a police report, Leung was arrested after arriving at the location with the guitar that was allegedly stolen. Police later obtained a warrant to search Leung’s residence at 854 Rose St. in West Lafayette and discovered numerous items believed to be among those stolen, said Purdue police Lt. Fred Davis.

Burglary is a Class B felony and is punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000 and up to 20 years in prison. Theft is a Class D felony, punishable by up to a $10,000 fine and a maximum three years in prison.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police are investigating the theft of seven laptops from a Stewart Center computer store during the weekend.

The computers were taken from the Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP) Offline Shopping Center in Stewart Center. The center is a vendor showcase where customers can examine the latest computer equipment.

The computers were taken from the Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP) Offline Shopping Center in Stewart Center, Room G65, sometime after 6:00p Saturday (July 18) and before 10:30a Sunday (July 19), said Purdue police Lt. Fred Davis. The center is a vendor showcase where customers can examine the latest computer equipment.

One of the door’s glass window panes was pried loose, and a note saying “sorry” was left on the wall.

The stolen laptops include a black Dell Latitude D 430 laptop, a red Dell XPS M1330 laptop, a white MacBook laptop, a black Apple MacBook Pro laptop, black Dell Latitude 6500 laptop, a black Dell Latitude 6400 and a silver MacBook Air laptop. The missing computers are valued at $9,965.

Anyone with information can contact the Purdue Police Department at (765) 494-8221 or the anonymous tip line at (765) 496-3784.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police on Sunday (May 10) arrested a man on several charges, including the attempted theft of a dog sculpture that is part of the Dog Days of Summer community art project. Police also recovered one of two sculptures previously reported stolen.

Adam Sachs, 20, a sophomore in the College of Engineering from St. Louis, was taken to Tippecanoe County Jail on preliminary charges of public intoxication, consumption of alcohol by a minor, criminal mischief and attempted theft.

According to a police report, an officer saw Sachs shortly before 3:30 a.m. attempting to steal the dog sculpture “El Perro” that was located on campus near the intersection of Grant Street and Northwestern Avenue. Sachs was carrying a toolbox with him when he was arrested, according to the report. The statue was not damaged.

In addition to Sunday’s attempted theft, two of the 41 dog sculptures decorated by area artists as part of the art project were stolen late Friday (May 8) or early Saturday (May 9). Police do not believe Sachs was involved in the previous thefts.

On Sunday afternoon, police recovered one of those sculptures – “Give a Dog a Bone, an X-RAY View” by artist Liz Rainey. A passerby called police after spotting the artwork behind foliage outside the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine’s Lynn Hall, near the location from which the dog was originally taken. Nicknamed “Oliver” by students, the sculpture was sponsored through contributions from students, faculty and staff in honor of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s 50th anniversary.

“It’s great that Oliver has been recovered,” said Kevin Doerr, the School of Veterinary Medicine’s director of alumni relations and public affairs. “Everyone loved this beautifully painted dog, and having it back safely at the school is a tremendous encouragement. It appears to be in excellent condition except for the leg that was broken by the person who removed the sculpture from its mounting location.”

Police are still attempting to find the final missing dog. “Alfie the Alpha Dog,” decorated by artist Janet Combs Ivas, was taken from the Northwestern Avenue side of the West Lafayette Public Library.

Doerr said a reward of up to $250 was being offered for its safe return.

Anyone with information related to the thefts is asked to contact Purdue police at 765-494-8221 or the anonymous tip line at 765-496-3784.

The School of Veterinary Medicine and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette partnered on the project that placed decorated life-size dog statues throughout Lafayette and West Lafayette.

In addition to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the school, the project also is a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette and benefits both equally. The Dog Days of Summer builds upon previous sculpture projects in the community: Hog Wild in 2003 and Frog Follies in 2005. This new project was inspired by the School of Veterinary Medicine’s outdoor sculpture “Continuum” by Larry Anderson, which features a dog as part of its array of people and animals in a depiction of the enduring human-animal bond.

Artists from Indiana and other areas were recruited to decorate three-dimensional dog forms. Corporations, business owners, veterinarians and individuals have sponsored the individual dogs.

Proceeds from the project will benefit the School of Veterinary Medicine’s 50th Anniversary Scholarship Endowment and its Good Samaritan Fund, and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette’s art education programs.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Two of the 41 dog sculptures decorated by area artists as part of the Dog Days of Summer community art project were stolen late Friday (May 8) or early Saturday (May 9).

One called “Give a Dog a Bone” by artist Liz Rainey was sponsored through contributions from students, faculty and staff in Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in honor of the school’s 50th anniversary. Nicknamed “Oliver” by the students, it is missing from the Harrison Street side of Lynn Hall, the school’s home on Harrison Street on the south side of campus.

The second missing sculpture, “Alfie the Alpha Dog,” was decorated by artist Janet Combs Ivas and had been standing watch on the Northwestern Avenue side of the West Lafayette Public Library.

“These dogs are priceless, not just because of the imagination and talent that went into producing them but also because of the community spirit they represent,” said Kevin Doerr, the school’s director of alumni relations and public affairs. “Our students, faculty and staff are enormously disappointed since this was a highlight of our anniversary celebration.

“Anyone who has information that might help us get them back or who knows where they might be located is asked to contact Purdue police at 765-494-8221 or call the anonymous tip line at 765-496-3784. If a reward would add needed encouragement, we are prepared to offer up to $250 for their safe return.”

The School of Veterinary Medicine and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette partnered on the project that placed decorated life-size dog statues throughout Lafayette and West Lafayette.

In addition to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the school, the project also is a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, and both benefit equally. The Dog Days of Summer builds upon previous sculpture projects in the community: Hog Wild in 2003 and Frog Follies in 2005. This new project was inspired by the School of Veterinary Medicine’s outdoor sculpture “Continuum” by Larry Anderson, which features a dog as part of its array of people and animals in a depiction of the enduring human-animal bond.

Artists from Indiana and other areas were recruited to decorate three-dimensional fiberglass dog forms. The finished dogs will be on display from May through September. Corporations, business owners, veterinarians and individuals have sponsored the individual dogs, which will go home with them when Dog Days are over.

At the end of the exhibition, a few of the decorated dogs will go on the road as part of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s traveling exhibit in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Other dogs will be auctioned off to the public on Oct. 4, when they will find a permanent home. Proceeds from the project will benefit the School of Veterinary Medicine’s 50th Anniversary Scholarship Endowment and its Good Samaritan Fund, and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette’s art education programs.