A University of Massachusetts junior said one of the suspects involved in Tuesday’s burglaries and alleged Cancer foundation scam confronted him and asked for money.

Around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, junior Nicholas McKenzie said one of the suspects, pictured in a UMass Police Department security camera photo, knocked on his Field Hall dorm room door and requested cash for a Cancer research organization.

“He knocked on the door, my door’s always open anyways, so I just said come in,” said McKenzie. “He said how they were raising money for Breast Cancer awareness. I asked what organization he was in; he said it was a non-profit group to raise money to support Breast Cancer research.”

McKenzie said he immediately became suspicious because he knew non-profit organizations do not normally solicit cash funds. The suspect who McKenzie said spoke to him is one of two men accused of stealing laptops, a camera and a wallet from three dormitory halls in Central and Orchard Hill Residential Areas.

The alleged larcenies occurred at the Brooks, Baker and Webster Residence Halls. The two suspects began their alleged stealing spree in Brooks Hall and worked their way to Webster Hall, according to police. A camera in Brooks Hall captured photos of the suspects entering the dormitory. McKenzie said the man wearing a white tee shirt with the word “AVON” printed on it was the one who entered his room.

Around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, the UMPD confirmed these suspects may have been soliciting cash funds for The Avon Breast Cancer Foundation – an organization that does not solicit cash, according to police.

When McKenzie asked the suspect which organization he volunteered for, he responded it “was a non-profit group to raise money to support Breast Cancer research.”

“I told him how I didn’t actually have any money on me, he said, ‘oh, OK, that’s fine, we accept change, whatever you got.’ I told him how I was flat broke,” said McKenzie.

McKenzie also said the girlfriend of one of his floor mates in Field Hall gave the man with the white tee shirt $10. When she found out it was a ploy, McKenzie said she was particularly upset because her mother is a Cancer survivor.

While McKenzie lives in Field Hall, the two suspects only stole electronics and money from the Brooks, Baker and Webster Halls, according to police. The last report of theft was at 8:49 p.m. on Tuesday, around the time that the suspect entered McKenzie’s room. McKenzie said the man stuttered a little bit when McKenzie asked him which organization he represented, but described his personality as “very cool and collected about it.”

“I find that kind of stuff particularly offensive, because not only is he keeping the money that he’s raising and conning people, but also the people who aren’t there, he’s actually scoping out their rooms and taking stuff and seems like they can get away with it,” said McKenzie.

Tim McCall contributed to this report.

Eric Athas can be reached at [email protected].