Tens of thousands of dollars worth of specialized electronics equipment has been stolen from three physics buildings located in the Hewlett and Packard Quadrangle. Workers at the Astrophysics Building, Varian Physics Lab and the Hansen Experimental Physics Lab (HEPL) began to notice that items were missing at the start of the quarter.

Over winter break, three oscilloscopes, valued between $3,500 and $7,000, two $400 to $500 voltmeters and a $39,000 spectrum analyzer were stolen from HEPL, but the crime was not reported until Feb. 8, according to the Stanford Department of Public Safety’s crime log. Various objects, including a hand-flute meter and walkie-talkie radios were also stolen from the Astrophysics building, and a spectrum analyzer was reported missing on Feb. 13 by a worker at Varian, who said the theft may have occurred as early as Jan. 10.

In what may be a related case, an iPod, an external hard-drive and several CDs containing research data were reported stolen from the nearby Gilbert Biological Sciences building on Jan. 23.

The items stolen from HEPL were taken from end stations, formerly part of a linear accelerator that was housed in the lab. The end stations are four stories underground, surrounded by eight-foot thick walls and ceilings, in a building that is locked 24 hours a day.

“We have some construction going on in end stations two and three” said Michael Killian, facilities manager for HEPL. “And all these buildings are connected by a tunnel four stories underground. If someone got in while there was construction, they would have access to the entire tunnel. With the construction, doors are open, contractors are in and out. It’s an opportune time for someone bold to take something.”

Citing an ongoing investigation, the Department of Public Safety has declined to comment on the spate of thefts. A police spokesman declined to comment on whether the thefts are connected or whether authorities have any leads.

Students have noticed an increased police presence in the area, but police also could confirm rumors that an officer has been posted to guard the Varian facility overnight.

Many of the stolen items have a broad range of applications.

“Anybody who does any type of electronic work in their garage and their kitchen table can use one of these,” Killian said of the oscilloscopes. “It’s a very versatile piece of equipment.”

Doreen Ross, facilities coordinator for the Astrophysics building, said the items stolen from that facility were used “for testing electronic circuitry.”