An Ottawa University junior will appear in court today for theft.
Sara Howze is accused of stealing her roommate’s credit card, according to a report from the Ottawa Police Department.
Cassie Pence, junior, reported her roommate, Howze, used her credit card without permission after she returned to her dormitory Oct. 29 and realized it was missing from behind her license.
“I searched my purse and even asked Sara to help,” Pence said.
After being unable to find her card, Pence contacted Tom Taldo and filed a report at 2 p.m. Nov. 30. She decided to cancel the card after contacting her mother.
“I filed the report on Monday after Taldo suggested a possible police investigation,” Pence said. “My mom actually suggested pressing charges.”
The police were notified and Officer Jeff Diehl called Howze in to interview and she confessed to the crime.
According to the police report, Howze was arrested for unlawful use of a financial card.
Pence had noticed some problems with some of her everyday items being borrowed and not returned previously, she said.
Pence had spoken to her resident advisor before about missing items, but this time felt she needed to go straight to Taldo and Lisa Thomsen.
RA Whitney Bowen said that there are recommendations that they make to prevent thefts from happening.
“We usually tell the residents to make sure they are locking their belongings or doors,” Bowen said.