Museum Guard Charged With Titanic Theft

C H I C A G O, Aug. 3 -- The security guard who first reported an address book missing from the Titanic exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry has been charged with stealing the artifact, Chicago police said today.

Joshua Jackson, 22, of Chicago was charged with felony theftafter police searched his apartment Wednesday night and found thebook — apparently undamaged — in a box in Jackson’s bedroom.

Jackson stole the book from the exhibit while doing a routinesecurity check, police said. Two screws securing a clear casearound the leather book wereremoved by Jackson during a regular security check, police said.

“We began surveillance of Jackson shortly after the theft,”said Police Cmdr. Walter Green, who said police believe Jacksonacted alone. That surveillance ended when Jackson let police searchhis apartment, Green said.

“It wasn’t hidden,” said Green.

Book Appears UndamagedThe book was being inspected by experts today. Joel Asprooth,a museum vice president and chief financial officer, said he lookedat the book “and it was all in once piece and it appeared to beundamaged.”Jackson reported the address book missing on themorning of July 26. Museum security officials conducted their ownsearch before notifying Chicago police several hours later. Policesaid Jackson made no attempt to sell the artifact.

Jackson was hired by Levy Security Corp. on May 1, and hadworked at the exhibit for about 30 days, according to Dan Shomon, aspokesman for the Chicago-based company. Shomon said Jackson, likeother employees, was hired after a background check that is farmore rigorous than what is required by the state. He said thecompany checks applicants’ driving record and criminal background,and conducts a drug test.

Shomon said Jackson passed all the tests and that he has nocriminal convictions.

Shomon would not discuss security at the exhibit. But themuseum’s president and chief operating officer said he wassatisfied with what has been done to “step up” security at theexhibit.