Dorm life on a college campus is a great time to meet new people, experience new things, and have the time of your life. However, it's easy to forget that while that everyone might seem honest and friendly, not everyone is as trustworthy as you might think. One of the most common types of crime on campus is theft, and dorm rooms are a major target. Make sure to lock the following items up really well because they are the most highly stolen objects on college campuses today.
1. Bicycles.
Since most people store their bicycles outside, they are exposed to whoever happens to be walking by at night. Most people take the precaution of locking their bikes to a pole or a special rail designed for such locks. However, not all bicycle locks are created equal and a simple pair of bolt cutters do the trick. Choose U-locks or chain locks over cable locks, since these are more resistant to breaking when leverage is applied with a crowbar and are also more difficult to cut with tools. If possible, wheel your bike indoors for the evening.
2. Laptops.
This is one of the most common items stolen from dorm rooms, often when the door is left unlocked while the resident takes a shower or makes a trip to the dining hall. Laptops are easy to slip into a sidebag and a criminal wouldn’t look unusual carrying one in an academic environment. Therefore, keep your door locked when you leave and make sure your roommate knows to do the same. If the door to your shared dormroom just doesn’t ever seem to get locked up, stash your laptop in a locked drawer of your desk, or cabinet before leaving the premises.
3. Cash.
If your roommate steals anything from you, it will be cash. This is the one item that you will never be able to prove is yours once it is stolen, so guard it well. If you reside in one of those suites that is always streaming with visitors, be sure to remove your wallet from your clothes overnight and put it either under your pillow or in a locked drawer. Even if you trust your roommate and all your friends, be aware that he or she may let other people into the room during the night who you don’t know.
4. Cell phones and iPods.
These small devices are easy to leave out on a desk unsecured and equally easy to put in a pocket and walk away with. These can be stolen from your dorm room, a library, the student union, or anywhere else you may set it down. The best way to protect yourself is to keep it in your pocket, purse or a backpack that you take with you when you leave the table.
5. Books.
Most bookstores will pay for books that are returned at the end of the year and you don’t need to prove that you were the original purchaser. Because of this, there is often a high rate of books stolen from study areas in the last few months of school. To protect yourself, study with groups of people you can ask to watch your stuff in case you want to leave to go to the bathroom, get a drink, buy a snack, or anything else. It’s not something you would normally think about, but be aware of leaving your books unattended
Crime is almost unavoidable on a college campus. Take heed of these tips to avoid losing pricey possessions. If you happen to have been caught for stealing on campus and need to take a court mandated theft class, www.theftclassonline.com is the way to go. You can take them from any internet based computer so you don’t have to drive somewhere else to physically attend the class. They are interesting and informative and most courts will approve them to fulfill the court order.
