Laptops, iPods, bicycles, wallets and other valuables have been among the items stolen across Boston University’s campus in a wave of larcenies in February, a BU Police Department official said.
BUPD encouraged students to keep valuables safe and rooms locked in a Feb. 17 email, as the thefts have been made in location such as Mugar Memorial Library, classrooms, the Fitness and Recreation Center, the George Sherman Union, dormitories and unlocked offices, said BUPD Captain Robert Molloy in an interview.
“Most larcenies involve items left unattended in classrooms or offices,” Molloy said.
Signs around FitRec and Mugar Library have been hung to remind students, faculty and staff not to leave belongings unattended.
Unsecured buildings and offices give suspects a chance to steal electronics and other items.
“People see the opportunity and they pick them up,” Molloy said. “The buildings are not locked. Anyone can just walk in and steal things. It only takes three seconds.”
Molloy said BUPD is doing its best to ensure that students, faculty and staff are taking the appropriate precautions when it comes to locking up belongings.
“The chief wanted to reinforce the fact that you need to lock up your property or put it out of sight,” he said.
Molloy said that many larcenies occur when students leave possessions unattended for a long period of time.
“Often students will forget they left something, and when they return to get it back an hour later, it’s gone,” Molloy said.
“We’re seeing a few more of these than we normally see, and just want people to be reminded to keep their valuables safe.”
Many students agree that they have a sense of faith in the environment at BU, which encourages them to leave their belongings unattended.
“People here have a lot of trust in others around them, especially in the GSU and the library,” said Luciano Fraioli, a Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences senior.
“You figure that people around you will see your stuff and watch it for you,” said SAR senior Laura Pierce.
However, students said they would be devastated if any of they became victims of larceny.
“It would be terrible if someone stole any of my stuff,” Fraioli said. “The things we depend on are so irreplaceable, especially as poor college students who don’t have a lot of money.”
Some students said they have observed others leaving items unattended around the campus.
“People in the library just leave their stuff out and walk away,” said Irena Barounis, a sophomore in the College of General Studies.
“It’s really expensive to buy a new laptop, so you should just watch over your stuff.”
Students said they would be most concerned about losing their laptops to theft.
“All of my notes and everything else I need are on my computer,” Piece said. “Usually I just ask people around me to watch my stuff, but if I ever saw someone stealing, I actually don’t know what I’d do.”
“I would be really upset because all of my documents are on my laptop. BU is expensive enough,” said Daniela Abadi, College of Arts and Sciences sophomore.
“You shouldn’t have to worry about people stealing your things.”
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