Police have a description for a possible suspect they believe may be connected to the recent theft of a master set of keys for the Towers Residence Association, said ISU Police Capt. Gene Deisinger.

ISU Police received a report just after midnight Wednesday that a male was seen outside Knapp Hall trying several keys to gain access to the building. After several attempts, the male succeeded in entering the building, Deisinger said witnesses reported.

The witnesses lost sight of the male after he entered the building. They later saw him again entering Wilson Hall, Deisinger said.

Police, Department of Residence officials and witnesses searched for the individual, but were unable to locate him.

Witnesses described the suspect as a male in his late teens to mid-20s, about 5-foot-11 to 6 feet tall, with long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, Deisinger said. The male was wearing a navy blue shirt and carrying a black backpack.

Deisinger said it is not known whether this individual is connected to the master key theft, but he said police would like to talk with him. ISU Police are asking that anyone who may have seen this individual or have information about the crime to contact them at 294-4428.

“I would like to encourage the person or persons responsible for taking the keys to return them as soon as possible,” Deisinger said.

Residence officials are also offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, and a $1,000 reward for recovery of the keys.

ISU Police have issued a crime alert for residents living in TRA, after a master set of keys for every door in the TRA were stolen from a residence department student security officer’s residence hall room Saturday evening.

Several students have reported thefts from their TRA residence hall rooms since the keys were stolen. Deisinger said it is possible these thefts were related to the theft of the keys, but that has not been confirmed.

Kate Bruns, communications specialist for the residence department, said residence officials plan to change all 1,200 locks in the TRA buildings. They began changing the locks Tuesday.