Former Syracuse University student charged for stealing from Link Hall
He was charged with stealing almost half of our tuition worth of equipment
A former Syracuse University student was arrested and is currently in police custody for stealing 22 desktop computers, LCD monitors, mice and keyboards from SU’s Link Hall, located at 130 Smith Drive on campus, according to Can Isik, senior associate dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
31-year-old Dhawal K. Gandhi entered Link Hall around 10:17pm on Friday, February 19th. Since the computers in the lab are attached to cable locks, Gandhi cut the cables and left Link, according to police. Additionally, police said he had previously trespassed in that building.
Close collaboration between the Department of Public Safety and the Syracuse Police Department resulted in the arrest of Gandhi and the recovery of some stolen items. Computer accessories and 13 of the 22 computers were found in Maxwell Hall and the Shaffer Art Building.
The remaining computers and accessories are yet to be located. Gandhi told police he sold some of the computers and other equipment on Craigslist and eBay, according to Syracuse Police Sgt. Rick Helterline.
Gandhi was charged with stealing $30,799 worth of technology equipment. Specifically, Syracuse police charged him with third-degree burglary, third-degree grand larceny and third-degree criminal mischief, all of which are felonies. Meanwhile, campus police charged him with fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and third-degree criminal trespass, both of which are misdemeanors, according to jail records.
Gandhi has been in the Onondaga County Justice Center since Saturday and is being held on $10,000 bail, according to jail records. His motive for stealing the computer equipment was unclear, according to Helterline.
In a campus-wide email sent out Syracuse University said they will update security in for computer labs. Students will have to use their student ID to gain access to the labs at specific entry points.