...
This guideline assumes the procedures outlined in guideline 431 have been followed. Having given an exiting person the benefit of the doubt after they have set off the exit alarm, they have been found to possess:
- damaged Damaged UMBC library materials which they attempted to remove from the Library (e.g., barcode scraped off, book jacket torn from pages, pages cut from magazines, etc) or
- UMBC library materials not properly loaned (and perhaps concealed) which they repeatedly or with excessive insistence attempted to remove from the Library despite the alarm sounding.
- UMBC library materials not properly loaned and which were carried/concealed in such a manner as to obviously betraying an attempted theft.
Such circumstances will lead you, as a reasonable person, to believe there is probable cause that the person intended to steal the State property in question. This is an apparent criminal violation of Maryland Code, Article 23 §308 "Theft or mutilation of books or other property." Follow the steps below.
- Take from the person all UMBC library materials in their possession.
- Ask the person for identification.
UMBC students are required under University policy to produce identification upon demand by any staff member. You may have to remind them of this requirement. - Call campus police (x53133) immediately to respond to the Library and assist. The responding police officer(s) will ordinarily arrest the individual.
Note: Library staff are not sworn police officers and cannot make a criminal arrest. Verbally persuade the person to await police; do not physically detain the person. - Complete an incident report form. Carefully list all UMBC library materials in question. If the police arrest the person then and there, they may need to take the library materials with them. This is acceptable. Otherwise retain the materials at the Security desk/closet to be given to the Associate Director Library Administrative Offices with the incident report the next day.
...
References: MD. Code, Article 23, §308
previously implemented guideline revised 10/7/94
revised 10/04/02, 3/5/03 to reflect current Police procedures; edited 7/30/09