The MU Police Department is looking to track down suspects in the theft of the Hudson Hall Homecoming banner.

The banner, which was hung at the front entrance of Rollins, was stolen at about 4 a.m. Oct. 16 following the Homecoming game, Hudson Hall Coordinator Robert Stagni said.

Hall residents noticed the banner was missing Monday morning. When students and staff realized the custodial staff didn’t remove it, Stagni began pulling video footage from nearby surveillance cameras. The information was then sent to MUPD.

“They don’t appear to be residents of Hudson or Gillett, so our ability to recover the banner is limited until MUPD decides to take further action or someone comes across information leading to their identities,” Stagni said.

Hudson Hall is working with MUPD to find the suspects, whom they said they believe are three males. Police have pictures of the banner and the individuals involved to aid in their search.

The banner depicted Hudson Hall’s Homecoming theme, St. Patrick’s Day. The banner was on a standard queen-sized sheet and featured Truman as a leprechaun alongside the Columns, a rainbow and a pot of gold. The sheet had some bulk to it from paint and primer but was still easy to run away with, Stagni said.

Stagni said he didn’t know if any other factors, such as alcohol, were involved, but said he speculated that it was planned or a dare.

“It did appear that the individuals who took the banner knew what they were doing, though,” Stagni said. “They came prepared and worked strategically to cut it down.”

Stagni said they are asking people in the community to give any information regarding the banner’s whereabouts.

“We’re asking residents and friends to keep an open eye and ear because you just never know where these things are going to turn up or when you’ll stumble across information that helps us recover it,” Stagni said.

MUPD and the Office of Student Conduct will be involved when the individuals are found.

“Honestly, recovering the banner is far more important to me than any potential punishment,” Stagni said. “The students who worked hard on it are pretty upset, and I think understandably so. They put quite a few hours into designing and making the banner, and I’m sad that such a great experience is being marred by this incident.”