Where’s the Soap? – Student Theft at Redwood

By: Nick Schonken and Brooke Logan

Photos by: Isabella Valero and Ciera Sesock

Starting September 1st on the popular streaming app Tik Tok, a social media trend named ‘Devious Licks‘ was started. Weeks later, the students of Redwood started realizing property missing on campus.

As students were “participating” in the trend, it was bringing chaos to the school.

Student thefts as a result of the newfound trend started with bathroom supplies such as soap. Students participating in the trend then started moving onto soap and paper towel dispensers, taking room numbers, exit signs on campus, bathroom mirrors, and more.

Virgil Madruga, Redwood’s daytime campus custodian, says that in light of the recent events he is left having to “replace [soap dispensers] 2 sometimes 3 times a day in one restroom.”

Madruga says that the thefts have gotten to the point that he has had to close the Ranger Hall downstairs bathroom. Stating “I have enough to keep the other ones going, or I can replace everything in there. So I’m going to wait until I can get my order in before I open that one back up.”

“It’s very frustrating, you know… I’m trying to keep on top of it and it’s like I’m getting buried. I can’t keep up with the amount of destruction that’s been going on.”

Campus Custodian Mr Madruga

Eric Rodriguez, an assistant principal at Redwood who oversees student supervision and activities, says that the thefts are “directly affecting the student body.”

Mr. Rodriguez goes on to say that the thefts have “had a huge impact on the school, but it is directly affecting the student body, and that’s the most frustrating part.”

He continued saying “yeah, we have to clean it [the mess ‘Devious Licks’ leave behind] up and so forth, but the most frustrating part is that our kids can’t have easy access to things they need on a daily basis. You know, especially with Covid… how can they sanitize as there’s no soap?”

Alejandro Marroquin, an assistant principal on campus who oversees curriculum and instruction, says that when it comes to the thefts, in regards to disciplinary actions, “nothing’s ever black and white, there’s always grey area… and if we’re any good at our job, it’s a case by case scenario.”

Mr. Marroquin also says, “obvious, outlandish theft that is affecting the greater community of our school is definitely going to perhaps involve law enforcement on top of ED Code [Education Code] disciplinary actions… but every case is different.”

Andrew Souza, Redwood’s Youth Service Officer, says that “[students] should take pride in their school.” Souza says that since everyone is taking part in this trend, “it looks bad on society.”

Souza adds that if the minor situations don’t get handled properly, it can lead to “worse and worse problems.”

The “extent of damage” can decide on what happens to a student who has been caught contributing to an act of vandalism. It can be anything from “community service on campus, being suspended…” to criminal charges with fees and other legal manor’s.

Mr. Rodriquez says that he wants students to start “taking ownership of our restrooms. Taking ownership of our school facilities. Having pride and having respect enough to tell kids, ‘Hey, enough’s enough. It’s our school and we need our restrooms back. We need to have our facilities back.'”

He says “It’s a safety issue…” and that it’s important for students to be “looking out for each other. You know, family; and holding each other accountable for our actions.”

Tags: clubs and lifestyles, Devious Lick, Property Theft, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism