Jennifer Basa | Contributor
Featured Image: Video footage obtained by the manager of Gong Cha shows two men stealing a student’s laptop out of her bag. | Fatema Ali
Located in the Quad, right on the edge of campus, Gong Cha is a busy and welcoming spot for bubble tea lovers. On September 18, second-year kinesiology student, Micah Ramsay, and her friends were casually sitting at Gong Cha. Moments later, her laptop was gone.
“I turned around and noticed my bag on the floor, wide open and papers scattered everywhere. I fell to my knees sobbing, causing a scene, and experiencing more anger than I ever had in my entire life,” she says.
“The restaurant was full, and it was visible to nearly everyone who was seated there. If people witnessed this, they didn’t speak up or question it,” says second-year kinesiology student Wesley Wang, a friend of Ramsay, who was also there at the time of the incident.
Ramsay explains that her backpack was closed and placed beside her on a chair. The bag was not visible to her or her friends. Fortunately, the theft was caught on camera.
The manager of Gong Cha graciously provided the minute-long clip, which shows a man subtly reaching into her bag, then nonchalantly walking out the door.
This person did not act alone—he was aided by an accomplice. Though the footage is slightly blurry, witnesses were able to provide a physical description.
“They are both between 40 to 60 years of age, potentially tanned, Caucasian. One man had a large tattoo on his right arm, and was wearing a distinct USA shirt. The man sitting down was heavier and wears glasses. He also had an over the shoulder black bag in which he stowed the pilfered laptop. Both men had short hair, and neither had excessive facial hair,” says Wang.
After the crime took place, Ramsay contacted campus security and explained what happened.
York Security responded, saying this crime did not occur within their jurisdiction, therefore she would have to contact the police instead.
“I was consumed with disbelief, sadness, a feeling of incredible violation, and anger that I still carry with me to its original, extreme degree. My previous mindset to expect goodness in strangers has been permanently altered, and at the time being, I see those around me as threats. The thought that this might have no resolution keeps me up,” she says.
With approximately 5o,000 people on campus on any given day, theft is unfortunately common.
Chief Spokesperson of Media Relations at York, Barbara Joy, responded to news of this crime: “The University encourages anyone with information about the recent theft to contact the Quad’s on-site management or Toronto Police Service directly at (416) 808-2222.
“Although the Quad is not a university-owned facility, if students have any campus safety questions or concerns, we encourage them to call or drop by York’s 24/7 Community Safety Office. York Security can be reached at (416)650-8000, x58000.”
