Belmont is Watching

Photo illustration, Zach Watkins

Remember that Celsius you took from Bear Necessities while you thought no one was looking?

Guess what: Belmont was watching.

Citations are on the way for students caught stealing from Bear Necessities, the 24/7 convenience stores that opened this fall in Wiseman Hall and the Barbara Massey Rogers Center. 

The stores have only been open 24/7 since Oct. 21. The self-checkout system allows customers to shop and check out without an employee present.  

With no employees present, students can—and have—stolen from the markets.  

“A person had just walked off and it was on the ‘please scan item’ page and I was like, ‘oh, they didn’t pay,’” said Patrick Hewitt, a Belmont dining committee member. 

This wasn’t the only instance of the five-finger discount used at these stores.  

"We can confirm that theft is being actively investigated on a daily basis at Bear Necessities,” read a joint statement from Campus Security and Auxiliary Services. 

Campus Security and Auxiliary Services monitors, transactions, tracking card swipe data to identify and potentially punish students for stealing. 

“We are reviewing every hour of security footage, and each instance of suspected theft is being thoroughly evaluated,” they said.  

It's not just individual students who would be punished, the campus could be robbed of its 24 hour Bear Necessities access.

“It’s very unfortunate that people are stealing, especially since it’s a lot more people than I thought it was,” Hewitt said.  

Sticky-fingered students may be fined, lose access to campus convenience stores and face possible legal action.

“Bear Necessities serves a vital role in our campus community. Patronage and sales clearly demonstrate its value for our students,” the statement read. 

Anyone who witnesses theft or suspicious behavior is urged to contact campussecurity@belmont.edu or call 615-460-6617.  

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This article was written by Emily Garver