LSUPD arrested three men Tuesday at 1 a.m. after they allegedly stole four 46″ plasma screen televisions from the LSU Dental School South Campus. The stolen products were worth nearly $14,400. Robert Smith Jr., 29, of 7816 Bles Drive, Apt. C, Kenderic Porter, 20, of 7801 Scenic Highway, Apt. 817 and Maurice Harris, 21, of 7801 Scenic Highway, Apt. 811 were booked in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on felony charges of burglary and accessory after the fact to burglary. LSUPD spokesman Maj. Lawrence Rabalais said officers patrolling the school were alerted of a suspicious pick-up truck with two men parked next to a dumpster by the LSU Dental School on June 22 at 7 p.m. Rabalais said officers were informed by staff at the Dental School on June 25 at 10 a.m. that four plasma televisions were stolen. A witness said one of the men in the truck resembled a student worker at the Dental School, which turned out to be Smith, Rabalais said. But the witness was unable to identify Smith in a photo line-up following the burglary. Detectives met with Smith, and he denied being at the location at the time of the burglary, Rabalais said. Authorities said Smith provided an alibi claiming he was working at Office Depot at the time of the burglary. Rabalais said detectives confronted managers at Office Depot. They confirmed Smith was not working when he said he was. Detectives reported to Smith’s residence at Bles Drive, and upon arrival, peered through the window and observed a large, flat-screen monitor similar to the television stolen from campus, according to Rabalais. Packaging for the television was found in the trash bin at the apartment complex. After acquiring a search warrant, officers returned to Smith’s residence and recovered two 46″ Samsung monitors – one still in the packaging and one installed in the apartment. Smith was working at Office Depot at the time of arrest. Rabalais said Smith admitted to the burglary. He said Porter assisted him in removing the monitors from the building while using Harris’s truck to haul the televisions to their homes. Officers then arrived at Porter’s residence, where they found a third television and arrested Porter and Harris. According to Rabalais, Porter informed officers that Harris was aware that his vehicle was used in the burglary, which makes Harris an accessory after the fact. Rabalais said Smith told officers the fourth television is located in West Palm Beach, Fla. at his father’s residence. Smith informed his father the television was stolen. Authorities said if Smith’s father refuses to return the television, he may face charges. Rabalais said authorities are uncertain if the men were University students.
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