Safe - And U Scientists - Out Of The Pit

Safe-and U scientists—out of the pit

U-M scientists breathed a collective sigh of relief Thursday following the recovery of a safe containing narcotics and a collection of potentially lethal experimental drugs.

The half-ton safe was stolen over the holiday weekend from the sixth floor of the medical school’s Medical Science Building. Authorities feared that some of the experimental drugs, used in addiction tests on what are called “junkie monkies,” could cause paralysis or death if used.

Late Thursday morning, a plumber sent to investigate a sudden loss in boiler steam pressure found the 1,000 pound safe at the bottom of an 18-foot pit beneath the building. The pit is part of the labyrinth of tunnels that carry steam for the hospital and campus heating system.

The safe was unopened, but authorities said a number of drug vials were broken. One of the experimental drugs is so rare that scientists said it represented the world’s supply. It could not be learned immediately if that particular drug was recovered intact.

Police believe the bumbling burglars accidentally dropped the safe, then tossed it into the pit, hoping it would remain undiscovered until they could claim it, possibly over the New Year’s holiday.

But, when the safe fell, a pump and steam pipe were damaged, causing the drop in pressure that led to its recovery by the plumber.

In addition to the experimental drugs, the safe contained highly purified quantities of common street narcotics, including cocaine, codeine, methadone and amphetamines. Even those drugs could have been dangerous if taken, authorities said, because of their high degree of purity.

News photo by Cecil Lockard

Detective Jerry Wright shines flashlight on safe found in pit