Normal winter increments in Widener reading room thievery were reported "under control" yesterday by John E. Shea, superintendent of the stack, as he pointed to a long-run reduction of felony over the past five years.

Cold weather ordinarily stimulates stealing said Shea. With more movable property and garments lying around the radiators, Shea observed, there is more opportunity to take it.

One recent outside raider, who had set up a thriving bank account on library loot, was nabbed in the act later in the summer, and confronted with Shea's typewritten records on the robberies, broke down and confessed in Cambridge police headquarters.

Shea urged more students to check their coats in the cloak room provided for the purpose to the right of the main turnstile.