Tattoo Thieves Target Northern Students

NMU is no stranger to theft, but a new and frightening crime wave is gripping campus. Someone (or some thing) is stealing the one possession thought theft-proof by those who have them - tattoos!

Several students have noticed tattoos missing from their bodies over the last several weeks.

"It's scary," said one student, "I was in a bar wearing a sleeveless shirt so people could see the tattoo I had on my arm. I was drinking and having a good time when I just casually looked down and noticed it was gone! Someone must have stolen it."

Inner city police departments have recently reported people being shot at for their tattoos, but this is the first time it was come up at NMU.

"It's just like anything else that becomes fashionable," said Inspector John Law of the Detroit Police Department, "someone sees it and has no qualms about killing to get it, just like the 8-ball jackets."

No violence has yet been associated with tattoo theft. Most cases are like that of a girl referred to here as "Desirèe:"

"I woke up one morning and it was just gone! I remember seeing it before I went to bed."

Public Safety is advising students not to get fancy tattoos to avoid presenting a temptation to the thieves and are adivising those who already have them to leave them at home when going out into crime-ridden neighborhoods.