The computer laboratory room of Patna University, from where thieves stole equipment. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, March 18: Criminals decamped with nine LCD monitors, a projector and three stabilisers worth around Rs 1 lakh from Patna University’s computer laboratory on the first floor of the administrative building.

The thieves sneaked into the building through the roof on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. They climbed down a temporary staircase set up for construction purpose. Breaking open the locks and latches of two collapsible gates and those of a glass door, they entered the laboratory room. They also twisted the door latch of the cabin of the computer laboratory in-charge, K.P. Singh. Police suspect insiders’ hand in the theft.

Singh said: “We don’t know how the theft happened. On weekdays, there are practical classes for students pursuing postgraduate diploma in computer application from 9am to 2pm. But because of a teachers’ training programme, the classes used to start at 8am for the past 10-15 days. Subodh Kumar, a peon, saw the equipment missing this (Friday) morning. He informed me about incident. I immediately called police.”

The laboratory in-charge said: “The thieves could not have entered the laboratory from the front as guards are deployed there. Because of construction of another floor on the same building, a temporary staircase has been erected for the labourers to carry material. The thieves must have used it. The locked entrance gate of the building suggests they did not enter from the front.”

Officers from Pirbhore police station said the theft looked suspicious.

“The matter is being investigated. There could be an insider’s hand in the theft. There was an attempt to open Singh’s room and the collapsible gate. But if the thieves could open the gates on the first floor, they could have done with the door of Singh’s room. But only the latches of both the doors were damaged. This shows it was done to fox the police,” said station house officer Asrar Ahmed.

The officer said the police were investigating the case. They would interrogate the employees of the administrative building of the university, Ahmed added.