Police Arrest Suspect in Theft

Harvard Police arrested a suspect last Friday in connection with a series of electronics thefts at the Law School, estimating the total value of the stolen items at $10,000.

The suspect, Luis Rivera, was employed by a service hired to clean Law School facilities, prompting Harvard Police officials to renew their call for background checks on potential Harvard employees. The Crimson has learned that Rivera, 33, had a prior record of larceny and property crimes.

Rivera will be charged with stealing several dozen VCRs, camcorders and portable stereo systems and televisions, including a 26-inch model from the office of Frankfurter Professor of Law Alan M. Dershowitz.

In an interview with police, Rivera took responsibility for "the majority" of the thefts, according to Harvard University Police Detective Paul Westlund, who headed the investigation of the case.

Rivera was arrested Friday afternoon at the Consolidated Service Corp., where he works as a janitor. His duties there, police said, included cleaning administrative offices at the Law School, for which he was provided with a key to the rooms.

None of the thefts involved forced entries, police said, which led investigators to suspect Rivera "fairly early on," according to Harvard Police Sgt. Kathleen Stanford.

After targeting Rivera, the police used "surveillence and other police methods" to gather evidence for the arrest, Stanford said.

"A collaborative effort between the uniform division and the detective division ultimately led to [establishment of] probable cause," Stanford said.

Following last Friday's arrest of Rivera, police obtained a search warrant for the Everett home of Carlos Avellanede, 35.

There, they found more than 20 items of expensive electronic equipment. Ten of those have been identified as property earlier removed from Law School offices, Stanford said yesterday.

Avellande was arrested for receiving stolen property worth more than $250, a felony. He is in custody, police said yesterday.

While Harvard Police Chief Paul E. Johnson applauded the efforts of the department in arresting the suspects, he renewed his call for background checks for University hires.

"The arrest of Luis Rivera and Carlos Avellanede is the culmination of an intensive effort by the detective and patrol units of the Harvard Police and should indicate to those who prey upon our community that the Harvard Police takes its responsibility to protect our environment extremely seriously," Johnson said.

Even a cursory examination of Rivera's background would have shown him to be a potential risk, Johnson said.

"I would like to see more stringent background checks," the chief said.

Johnson suggested that the University impose minimum standards for potential employees and force subcontractors to adhere to them.

Suspects in several recent crimes at the University have been insiders with criminal records.

Most notably, former library employee Stephen L. Womack was charged last month with slashing millions of dollars worth of rare books from Harvard libraries. Prior to his employment at Harvard, Womack already had a decade-long history of mutilating books, according to officials at Lexington Public Library.

And two years ago, Harvard Extension School student and Mineralogical Museum employee James A. Hogue was arrested for stealing nearly $100,000 in precious gems from the museum.

Hogue also had a prior criminal record, including thefts of thousands of dollars worth of bicycle parts in California and $600 in electronics equipment from a New Jersey firm.CrimsonJoohn C. MitchellHarvard Police Chief PAUL E. JOHNSON renewed his call for examinations into the backgrounds of potential Harvard employees.

Even a cursory examination of Rivera's background would have shown him to be a potential risk, Johnson said.

"I would like to see more stringent background checks," the chief said.

Johnson suggested that the University impose minimum standards for potential employees and force subcontractors to adhere to them.

Suspects in several recent crimes at the University have been insiders with criminal records.

Most notably, former library employee Stephen L. Womack was charged last month with slashing millions of dollars worth of rare books from Harvard libraries. Prior to his employment at Harvard, Womack already had a decade-long history of mutilating books, according to officials at Lexington Public Library.

And two years ago, Harvard Extension School student and Mineralogical Museum employee James A. Hogue was arrested for stealing nearly $100,000 in precious gems from the museum.

Hogue also had a prior criminal record, including thefts of thousands of dollars worth of bicycle parts in California and $600 in electronics equipment from a New Jersey firm.CrimsonJoohn C. MitchellHarvard Police Chief PAUL E. JOHNSON renewed his call for examinations into the backgrounds of potential Harvard employees.