A typical Tuesday afternoon for Grand Valley State University students was interrupted on Feb. 18 when a commotion erupted outside the Kirkhof Center, as Grand Valley Police Department and Ottawa County officers intercepted two suspects of a robbery in progress.

Officers arrested two individuals in front of the Kirkhof Center who were suspected of stealing from the Allendale Campus’ Laker Store. During the arrest, there was an altercation between one of the suspects and officers that resulted in the suspect being on the ground. The conflict spurred many students to take to social media, seeking clarification about what had occurred.

According to Assistant Director of Public Safety Captain Kourosh Khatir, officers were dispatched at 11:00 a.m. after receiving a call about property being taken from the Laker Store. Two potential suspects were followed around the Laker Store by store personnel, who felt the suspects might have been engaging in suspicious activity. The two subjects, one male and one female, were then stopped by officers in front of the Kirkhof Center. A scuffle occurred as the male suspect was being detained, in which some eyewitnesses claim he was tasered.

The larceny suspects were taken into custody, identified and then released. The male suspect was found to be a juvenile who was not a GVSU student. Details about what may have happened during the scuffle and what item(s) were stolen have not yet been released to the public, as the investigation is still ongoing. It has not been confirmed whether the suspects are guilty or innocent. The suspects’ names will remain anonymous until a verdict is reached.

Students began posting about what had happened on social media soon after the incident, primarily using the anonymous chat app YikYak. There has yet to be any formal communication by the University addressing the matter.

Larceny is one of the most pertinent issues on college campuses. Data from GVSU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report revealed that larcenies on campus have tripled at the University since 2021. Between Thursday, Feb. 13 and Wednesday, Feb. 19, there were three separate instances of larceny. On Friday, Feb. 21, a series of vehicle break-ins also occurred across the Allendale Campus. Assistant Director of Public Safety Leah Heaton advised that students keep their personal belongings on their person or within view at all times. Heaton also recommended recording serial numbers of personal electronic devices, which could be helpful in recovering stolen technology.

Some additional tips to prevent personal belongings from being stolen include:

• Have a unique way to identify your belongings, such as a keychain 
• Avoid carrying large sums of cash and freeze a credit card immediately if your wallet is stolen 
• Write your name on valuables for easier identification

“If you are a victim of a larceny, reporting to the police as soon as it (the larceny) occurs can assist police in developing any leads in the case,” Heaton said.