At least seven laptops and iPads, valued at over $10,000, were stolen from Fisher Library at the University of Sydney in a bold daylight theft on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 4:30pm while students were studying for upcoming exams.
Police confirmed several electronic devices were reported stolen from the Camperdown campus. Some items were later tracked to SVS Mobile, a phone and computer repair shop in Auburn, after the thief allegedly attempted to sell them.
Shop owner Mark Zhang told 7NEWS.com.au the man claimed the devices were from a store he worked at and asked if they could be unlocked or sold. Zhang said he refused to pay, noting that as professionals, they knew the devices might be traceable. Several students contacted the shop after tracking their devices, and Zhang agreed to hand them over to police on Thursday.
One victim warned fellow students on social media: “Never leave valuable items in the library!” after recovering their laptop. Fisher Library is open 24/7 to students, with uniformed Protective Services Officers on site, and is open to the public during business hours.
A University of Sydney spokesperson expressed concern over the thefts and said additional reminders and security broadcasts have been rolled out. “We urge any student who believes they may have had their personal items stolen to report this to our Protective Services team and to the Police,” the spokesperson said. The university has increased communications reminding students not to leave laptops unattended.
Police investigations are ongoing, and it is not yet clear whether more devices were stolen.
