Five members of Sigma Nu arrested in Alhambra

On Wednesday, five members of USC’s Sigma Nu fraternity were arrested for stealing plants and garden decorations from front lawns in the city of Alhambra.  According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the students told police that the statues would be used as decorations for a future fraternity party.

A witness saw four men in a black 2004 Ford F-150 driving through neighborhoods, running into yards and back to their vehicle. The incident took place in the 300 block of South Almansor Street at 1:17 a.m.

Five minutes later, an officer spotted the vehicle with a truck bed full of palm leaves and plants heading north. The men were then pulled over.

Johnson  also told the Tribune that the suspects were using pruning shears to cut of tops of small palm trees and that they also stole three duck statues, a cat statue and a Buddha statue. Police believe the students stole from more than one front lawn.

The five suspects’ Facebook pages mentioned a Sigma Nu party for Oct. 11. Police are not sure that the stolen plants and statues are for that party, but the pictures on Facebook for the event included photos of birds and palm trees.

The event was canceled on Wednesday after news of the arrests broke.

The five students were arrested on suspicion of grand theft and conspiracy to commit grand theft. They were released on $20,000 bail each.