ERDC’s front gate is seen from Halls Ferry Road.(Jon Giffin The Vicksburg Post)

[1/14/04]A burglar or burglars broke into a cafeteria at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in spite of security measures that were increased in 2003.

Bill Roth, chief of security, said Tuesday the main cafeteria in the main administration building was entered through a padlocked rear door late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

“They managed to steal 50 cents and nothing else,” Roth said, adding other money was locked up.

The burglars also went to a smaller cafeteria, near the rear of the 700-acre research and development installation, where windows were broken, but nothing was taken.

“They (also) attempted to break into our (post exchange) and were unsuccessful,” he said.

He said total damages amounted to a few hundred dollars.

Roth said his office called the Vicksburg Police Department to investigate, but it had not been determined how the burglar or burglars entered the installation, which is surrounded by tall fences and gates with staffed guard shacks and video monitors.

ERDC is home to supercomputing and other top-secret facilities and projects being conducted in support of the Army’s civilian and military missions. The center, formerly known as Waterways Experiment Station, is located between Halls Ferry and Porters Chapel roads.

In 2003, ERDC added devices, including permanent barriers at some gates, that are no longer used and movable barriers at the two gates through which employees and visitors can enter and leave. The perimeter fencing also includes what appears to be an ornamental iron fence on each side of the main gate on Halls Ferry Road. It is actually an enhanced security barrier fence.

Roth said there is an extensive system of video cameras around the installation, and his office is reviewing all of the tapes in an attempt to determine if the intruders came from outside or had hidden on the reservation.

“We feel confident we will be able to identify them from the tapes,” he said.

There are about 1,500 people employed at ERDC, along with a large number of contract employees.

Because of the concurrent jurisdiction with the Vicksburg Police Department, Roth said, the intruders will likely be prosecuted in Warren County Circuit Court on state burglary charges.

Wayne Stroup of the ERDC public information office, said additional security measures are in place in areas where classified research is being done. As a result, there was little chance a burglar could get into those areas.