The UW-Madison Police Department announced a new retrieval program Tuesday to crack down on the theft of sunburst chairs from the Memorial Union Terrace.
Thieves steal an “excessive” number of chairs each year from the terrace, approximately 250, according to a UWPD brief. Beginning in 2013, an overnight security guard began patrolling the area to combat the thefts.
Each chair is reported to cost $250 each to replace and fines for being caught with a stolen chair can be approximately $500. Stolen chairs cost approximately $62,500 per year to replace.
These chairs are colored orange, yellow and green. Students can purchase a red or white starburst chair through the Wisconsin Union. "Mendota Blue" chairs were also available through a 2012 fundraising campaign for the Memorial Union Reinvestment renovation but are no longer being sold.
UWPD urges all members of the UW-Madison community to look out for stolen chairs and to file a report if any stolen chair is seen around campus. UWPD assures those who report stolen chairs will remain anonymous.
