Winter months bring colder temperatures, as well as an uptick in theft on campus, according to data from the Boston University Police Department.
BUPD Captain Robert Molloy said the thefts are a result of students failing to take precautions to protect their unattended personal items in public places on campus.
“Students are very comfortable in their environment here because it is a safe campus,” he said. “However, outside people might have access to these areas and that can really subject your valuables to being taken if they are left unattended.”
BUPD data, collected through mid-October of this year, shows a total of 11 jackets have been reported stolen in 2015, eight of which are Canada Goose brand jackets.
Since 2013, a total of 44 clothing items have been reported stolen, according to BUPD data. Eleven of these are Canada Goose brand jackets, the most of any brand stolen.
“We have taken reports of thefts of jackets that are left unattended,” he said. “Canada Goose jackets [are] popular with students and we know they can be expensive. We have had several reports of them being taken and we investigate them all.”
Winter coats sold on the company’s website range in price from around $600 to $1200.
Molloy said everyone on campus should be aware of the risk of unattended property, especially expensive winter coats, being stolen.
“It’s the same reminder we give to students, faculty and staff about any unattended item that’s valuable and subject to theft,” he said. “This includes people working in the [George Sherman Union] who leave their laptops and come back, and their unattended property is gone.”
Most of the thefts are jackets left unattended at the Fitness and Recreation Center, as students usually leave their belongings without securing them, Molloy said.
“For the most part, they occur at the FitRec where they are left in unlocked lockers or just laid down somewhere,” he said. “Students leave them to go work out to come back and find their coat is gone.”
The BUPD encourages students to take all possible precautions, Molloy said.
“We are always trying to educate our community, he said. “We are always trying to tell people to secure their jackets in a locker to make sure it will be there when you get back.”
Individual lockers and locks are available for daily use free of charge, according to FitRec’s website.
Several students said thefts are an unfortunate reality of the winter months, and expensive winter coats are especially vulnerable.
Lathrop Kelly, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said the more things students are carrying with them, the higher risk their belongings might be taken.
“All the coats that are in style and everyone is wearing all look the same,” she said. “It’s a possibility people could be taking jackets because they look the same and it’s confusing. But students should just be more mindful of their things.”
Marissa Wrubel, a sophomore in the Questrom School of Business, said students should be aware of the risk that comes with having an expensive coat.
“People don’t want to buy their own jackets, so they see nice jackets lying around and think it’s easy to just pick one up and take it,” she said. “If you don’t want yours to be taken, don’t leave it out to make it easy for people to steal it.”
Chichiger Shyy, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, agreed that students should be aware of their surroundings and keep an eye on their personal belongings, on and off campus.
“People need to be more careful of their stuff, and keep it with them at all times,” she said. “Even on campus, people won’t hesitate to take something expensive that’s not theirs.”
