A theft occurred at the Florida A&M Al Lawson Teaching Gym Tuesday. Christien Fontaine was the victim of breaking and entering during his morning shift as technical director for the gym.
Fontaine’s Chevrolet HHR was broken into from the back window and his global positioning system was taken.
“I arrived at work at 7:30 a.m., as usual, went to my car for a soda at 8:30 a.m. and at 9 a.m. my boss came into my work place and informed me that my car had been broken into,” Fontaine said.
Thomas Cavano, Fontaine’s supervisor, asked him if he had any recent altercations or enemies that he was aware of. Having none, Fontaine proceed to his car to inspect the damages.
“I was shocked to discover that the criminal did not even take the time to unlock any of the doors, but only used the rear window as an entrance and exit,” Fontaine said.
Tiffany Womack, another FAMU employee, said, “I am really shocked that someone would be so bold to do this in broad daylight around so many people.”
According to Fontaine, a party company was supplying the teaching gym with supplies and one of the employees unloading the truck claimed to witness a man lingering around the vehicle.
The party company employee described the man as a black man in his early 20s, with a high-top haircut wearing blue jeans with a denim jacket.
Police said that this matches the description of a man responsible for at least five other burglaries on campus, according to Fontaine.
“I was informed that the criminal has been bold enough to commit burglaries in front of witnesses,” Fontaine said. “He believes he is invincible, just telling onlookers to mind their own business or else it will happen to them.”
The man has been reported several times by local residents surrounding the Teaching Gym.
“If this situation were to ever occur, the best thing to do would be getting to a safe place and contacting the FAMU Department of Public Safety,” said Robert Gaines, a FAMU police officer. “The individual’s safety is the most important aspect for a situation like this and we’re just glad no one was severely hurt.”
If you have any information regarding this crime, please contact the Florida A&M University Department of Public Safety at 850- 599-3256.