Shawanna Christina Wright, 26, was charged Monday concerning thefts of personal property on Clemson University Campus. Wright is not a Clemson student or employee.
Police said the incident took place on Dec. 10 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the Clemson University Police Department (CUPD) received six reports of theft. The suspect had allegedly entered unoccupied offices and classrooms in Strode Tower and Rhodes Hall, stealing debit cards, credit cards, an iPhone, an iPad mini and an external computer hard drive.
Thefts were also reported Feb. 2 in Cooper Library, via the Library twitter account. CUPD posted security photos depicting a person of interest in connection with these thefts inside the library and outside campus buildings.
Wright has not been charged in connection with these thefts.
CUPD Chief Eric Hendricks reported that Wright was apprehended after she used one of the stolen credit cards at a department store.
“As a result of the investigation and with the cooperation with the Anderson Police Department, we positively identified the suspect as Shawanna Wright,”
said Hendricks.
Wright has been charged with three felony counts of financial transaction card theft, six misdemeanor petty larceny counts and trespassing after notice. Her personal recognizance bond was set at $28,250, and she was released to the custody of Anderson Police Department. Wright’s alleged activity at Clemson is similar to her existing record. In fact, the Anderson woman has an extensive criminal record between Anderson County and Pickens County, with similar crimes dating all the way back to 2007. In Oct. of 2007, Pickens County charged Wright with 16 counts of financial transaction card fraud and one count of larceny. Earlier that year, Pickens County had also charged her with non-violent burglary and larceny. Wright continued her spree in Anderson County, where she was arrested for financial card fraud in years 2009 and 2012, three counts of financial card theft in 2011, as well several petty larceny charges during the years 2009, 2011 and a grand larceny charge in 2012.
Chief Hendricks reported that Wright had visited Clemson in the past.
Shawanna Wright was convicted of several thefts on campus going as far back as 2007.
Wright has not been the only alleged trespasser to steal from Clemson students. Several thefts were reported in Cooper Library on Monday and Tuesday.
Clemson’s Public Information Coordinator Micki Reid warned students about future theft: “We know it’s a pain to pack all your stuff up just to be gone for a minute, but a minute is all that it takes for someone to walk off with
your laptop, your wallet or more.”
Chief Hendricks responded with a similar warning, adding that students should lock up their valuables, document the serial numbers of said valuables and not leave any valuables in an unsecure area.
“Proactive security and safety measures, including successful community partnerships and open lines of communication with the campus community, have been proven to deter crime on campus,” said Hendricks, commenting on whether students should be concerned about trespassers like Wright or events like this happening in the future.
Students can read more about safety measures at http://www.clemson.edu/cusafety/. Students can call 911 for emergencies or CUPD at 864-656-2222 if they notice any suspicious activity.
