Several days ago, Campus Police issued a campus theft alert, warning the campus that six accounts of larceny have been reported on campus since the beginning of the semester. According to Chief of Campus Police John Carter, a laptop and video camera were stolen from a room in Crossett Dormitory, a spoiler was taken from an automobile parked on campus, a laptop, credit card, some cash and a bank card were stolen from two rooms in Pratt Dormitory and a wallet, digital camera and cellular phone were stolen from two rooms in Davis Dormitory.

"The number of thefts we've had on campus so far this semester is not unusual ... It's important to keep in mind that these thefts are not necessarily related to each other," said Carter.

The campus theft alert was released in order to let the campus community know what has been occurring and how to prevent it, not because the thefts are out of the ordinary, according to Carter.

However, all the thefts reported in campus dormitories this semester have taken place in rooms left unlocked.

Despite the thefts, most students feel secure on campus. "I feel pretty safe," said Stephen Scriber '06.

"I'm really paranoid about my stuff to begin with," said Beau Alessi '06. "But I guess I don't think it's that big a problem."

The resident counselors (RCs) in Pratt advised residents never to leave their doors unlocked, even for short absences such as while taking showers, according to Maura Klugman '05, an RC in Pratt, where two of the thefts occurred.

"Generally, I feel very safe on this campus, and I think that's why it is easy not to take easy precautions like locking your door," said Klugman. "It disturbs me to think of someone stealing stuff from where I live. But, I nonetheless still feel safe in my dorm. Now, though, I do take those extra steps to protect my room."

Carter advises students to take several precautions to protect against theft. Leaving valuable items unattended, especially laptops and other items that can easily be transported without arousing suspicion, is a common mistake. Also, students can bring their laptops to Campus Police to have them engraved with the student's Social Security number, allowing all laptops to be identified by owners and providing a deterrent to theft.