Collectable cameras valued at $6,000 were stolen from an NIU media office some time in the last six weeks, University Police said Monday.

The most recent camera theft brought the dollar amount of the rash of burglaries to about $11,000. Recently, a World War II-era 35mm still camera and an Arriflex 16mm movie camera were stolen from the Altgeld Hall art/photo department, a division of media services, said Keith Collins, director of media services.

“This was older equipment. It was almost collector’s items,” Collins said.

The thief took the cameras from an unlocked back storage room that is not used daily, said University Police Lt. Kathy Guimond.

The cameras were in the storage-room about six weeks ago during the yearly equipment inventory, said Keith Lowman, media services graphic design supervisor. The thief took the cameras but left the cases behind, possibly to mask the theft, Lowman said.

The cameras weren’t missed sooner because they aren’t always in use. “It’s equipment we only use at certain times of the year. We use it for pictures taken during outdoor athletics. It’s mechanical, not electronic, so it’s more durable,” Lowman said.

All the cameras were engraved with NIU identification numbers, Lowman said.