A Cerritos College automotive technology student was arrested on allegations of stealing parts of a recently donated truck last Thursday from the Cerritos College Automotive Department and attempting to sell the parts on Craigslist.

The incident has shed light on what automotive instructors call a bigger issue: the Automotive Department being unsecured for the past four months.

Samuel Cruz was taken into custody at school after authorities say he stole the taillights and the tailgate off the $58,000 2011 Chevy Silverado that belonged to the Automotive Department.

“He was in my class and was a regular student, I wouldn’t have suspected him at all,” instructor of automotive collision repair Robert Asperen said.

Cruz did not return an e-mail to be interviewed, but according to his Facebook profile, he works for General Motors.

The parts, according to Cerritos College Chief of Police Richard Bukowiecki, totaled $3,300.

According to Bukowiecki, Cruz was singled out as a suspect after an automotive technology instructor found the missing parts on Craigslist just days later and reported it to campus police.

After campus police were informed of the ad, they launched an investigation into the theft and soon traced the phone number linked to the ad that they believe Cruz posted.

“All of the missing items were found at the suspect’s home and have since been returned to the Automotive Department,” Bukowiecki said.

But according to Frank Vega, instructor of automotive mechanical repair, the problem stems a lot deeper than just Cruz’s incident and the problem has been apparent for two to three years now.

According to Vega, parts disappear on an almost daily basis.

“Some of these guys are ruthless, they think this place is a pick-your-part. The [Cerritos College] Automotive Department is one of the biggest programs in the state and this is a huge black eye to the program.”

Automotive student Moses Lopez said, “[The thefts] are something you hear about all the time, you just never see it.”

While it is still unclear who is behind the thefts some believe that because of recent construction it is easier than ever for thieves to access cars and parts in the Automotive Department.  

Asperen said, “It’s a mess. Ever since they said we can move back into the building we haven’t been able to secure anything. The building hasn’t been secure in four months.”

The automotive department has been under construction since winter of 2009. According to Robert Riffle, director of Physical Plant Facilities, work stopped about six weeks ago when the contracted company gave up the project to another company for undisclosed reasons.

“If there are doors that are not securable nobody should be allowed in that area and I have a problem with that. This problem has not been brought to my attention. The construction manager or [division dean] have not informed me,” Riffle said. “I don’t know why they would store things in areas that can’t be secured.”

The project is expected to be finished in December with work slated to begin again at the end of this month.

With the Automotive Department faculty unsure how to protect their parts, some like Vega have considered taking matters into their own hands. “A couple of us are considering buying cameras for the department out of our own pockets. The school sure doesn’t have the money for it.”