
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 31, 1992                   TAG: 9203310290
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-7   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

TECH AUTHORITIES CHECKING TO SEE IF THEFTS, RECOVERED KEYS LINKED

Virginia Tech authorities are investigating a rash of burglaries on campus over the last six months that involve reports of thousand of dollars in missing cash, Tech spokesman Larry Hincker said Monday.

Hincker said Tech employees are trying to determine whether master keys found last week in the possession of two students match up to buildings where thefts have occurred.

John A. White and Kevin L. Lane, both juniors and residents of Rasche Hall, were arrested by university police last Tuesday. Each was charged with breaking and entering with intent to commit larceny and possession of burglary tools.

White and Lane resigned from the Corps of Cadets after they were arrested, Hincker said.

According to search warrants for the students' dormitory rooms filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court, Lt. J.W. Cardwell apprehended White and Lane in an office of the Litton-Reaves building at about 2:40 a.m. last Tuesday.

The two students had lock-picking devices, a number of master keys to university buildings, a Realistic police scanner tuned to the Tech police frequency, prying devices and gloves when the officer found them.

"Master keys have been taken in recent thefts," according to the search warrant, which was applied for by Tech police Sgt. L.L. Snidow.

The search warrants were filed in order to search for master keys "stolen from recent thefts plus other items stolen from Derring, Williams, Davidson, Wallace, Patton, Litton-Reaves and Norris Hall."

In a search of White's room last Tuesday morning, police found more than 30 sets of university keys as well as four individual university keys, according to the search warrant. Also found during the search were lock-picking tools, various postage stamps and a small amount of coins.

Hincker said neither White or Lane was in an official position that would allow them to have the master keys.

Both students have been released on bond and have returned to school, Hincker said.

They are scheduled to appear in Blacksburg General District Court on Wednesday for advisement of legal counsel. A preliminary hearing has been tentatively scheduled for April 15.

by CNB