The master keys to CLXF, the largest freshman residence hall, were declared missing on Sunday afternoon by staff members of the Office of Residential Life.
"We discovered the keys missing on Sunday afternoon and immediately contacted BCPD," said Henry Humphreys, director of the Office of Residential Life. "We conducted our own investigation which turned up no results. At that point, BCPD launched an investigation."
The Boston College Police Department investigation is still ongoing.
The keys open every door in CLXF, which comprises the Claver, Loyola, Xavier, and Fenwick residence halls. Residential Life uses the keys to access rooms during health and safety inspections and during emergencies.
BC police officers, in conjunction with Office of Residential Life staff, patrolled the building until all the locks were reconfigured on Tuesday. Officials were concerned with the threat to people's property and did not believe that there was a serious threat to the safety of students.
"The keys were reported stolen to the BCPD at 2:20 a.m. on Monday morning," said BCPD Chief Robert Morse.
"Extra patrols started within two hours after the keys were reported stolen and were continued until the locks were changed during the hours of darkness," Morse said.
Humphreys was not sure of the exact cost of the lock replacement. "It depends on if we had the cores in stock or if we had to purchase them," he said.
Students, however, were not made aware of the situation. Resident Director Austin Ashe simply told residents in an e-mail obtained by The Heights not to mind facilities workers changing locks. The e-mail read:
"So if you hear one of our facilities folks outside your door there's no need for alarm, they are just doing some work on the doors."
Humphreys said: "We couldn't tell them that they were stolen because we don't know. We can't tell them that they were lost either. Given the long weekend, the majority of the residents were away. Given the situation, I think the response was appropriate … concern was around the safety of property.
"In evaluating what the situation was and what would be the purpose of telling students when they're away that the event was happening. Would it benefit them? Would it make them feel any safer?"
In the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, however, many students are concerned with the University's handling of the event.
"The system is flawed," said one student who wished to remain anonymous. "Someone screwed up. They need to take responsibility and own up to it. This is a security risk, and the fact that they would keep it from students so they don't have to take a few angry phone calls is not right.
"We're looking at a serious problem with the way they handle information. When there is a security risk in the whole building its common sense that you let people know."
"Considering the amount of electronic equipment and valuable things I find it very disturbing that no one was informed," said Courtney McKee, Claver resident and A&S '11.
Humphreys added, "The department is reviewing all of its procedures for securing master keys inside of residence halls."
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