With the price of textbooks through the roof, overall expenses high, the need for added cash always present and the all too inviting open door policy of dorm-life, it is no wonder that dorm theft is common.
What's not common is how widely known an issue it really is. Most dorm thefts are of one item here or one textbook there. Although the problem when lumped together is large, there is rarely the broken glass style burglaries that garner headlines. Further, Universities are really not trying to be in the local news for having problems with theft. Combine all this and you may naively go off to college not worried about your stuff getting stolen, which in and of itself makes you a perfect target.
Whose Stealin?
The sad thing on college campuses is typically it is other students. It's entirely possible that someone from off-campus came on to campus to steal, but the odds are against it. The reason being is that for these quick backpack swipes, textbook grabs, or tech stuff steals to even be able to occur, the thief has to be able to blend in. And no one blends in better than fellow students!
What to watch for?
Nothing! There is nothing obvious to look for. Most college student thieves fall into the category of opportunist. If they see something that has value and it is unattended (with no risk of getting caught), they'll steal it.
The Key is to not watch for something, but rather watch your stuff!
With the ability to re-sell textbooks, post anything on Craig's List or even eBay, almost everything you own could have value. Even your jacket could be sold to a local consignment shop. So next time you leave a coat or a textbook on a library chair or in your dorm study room, don't be surprised if you become the next victim of dorm theft.
...Part 2 will focus on ways to limit in room theft.
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