Aryn Sanderson

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Update 10:30 a.m.

University police declined to comment if VG Cafe was left unlocked, and is unaware of the total financial damages from an alleged break in early Sunday morning. Damages, however, will include expenses for the stolen goods, cleanup and “the damage where they had ransacked inside the cafe,” Police Chief George Hughes said.

Original Post

Approximately 100 people entered VG Cafe near 1:30 a.m. Sunday, after it was closed, and several stole items from the restaurant, University Police Department Chief George Hughes said.

Following an anonymous tip, officers arrived on the scene and found several people outside the main entrance of the building, Hughes said.

As soon as police arrived, the suspects allegedly ran away on foot. People had bags of chips and cookies with them and dropped them as they ran, Hughes said.

“I am very disappointed that so many people would enter VGs and steal from Campus Dining,” Hughes said. “But I would like to commend the anonymous person that called in, did the right thing and reported this crime.”

After police officers entered VG Cafe, which closes at midnight on weekends, it became obvious to them several people had been inside the cafe and stolen many items, Hughes said.

From surveillance tapes recorded by five security cameras in the Campus Dining-owned facility, police were able to confirm approximately 100 students came through VG Cafe within a period of approximately 30 minutes.

“They left quite a mess,” Hughes said.

The police chief denied a rumor on Reddit that Cal Poly is contracting a third party that uses facial-recognition software to identify students.

“We are not contracting out with anybody,” Hughes said. “This investigation is internal to campus.”

The Reddit post also suggested university police are “currently planning on charging every student with burglary and kicking them out of the university if they do not confess.” Hughes said this is also false.

“It’s too hard to tell from this type of investigation what consequences will come out of this,” Hughes said. “We’re currently reviewing the surveillance footage and following up on several leads.”

Officers have not yet spoken to any potential suspects, Hughes said.