Police say unlocked residence hall doors cause surge in laptop thefts

02/27/09 - In the first two weeks of February campus police received at least 11 reports of laptop thefts in Aldrich, Burnside, Coddington, Dorr and Hopkins residence halls.Maj. Stephen Baker of the University of Rhode Island Police Department said yesterday that in every case reported, thefts were a result of students leaving their doors unlocked.

"In a few cases there were other items taken, like iPods and game systems," Baker said.

According to Baker, laptop thefts have always been an issue in the dorms, particularly on move-in/out day when students leave their doors open because they are busy unpacking cars. At the beginning of this month university authorities experienced a surge in laptop thefts inside dorms.

"It's a very good possibility that [the thefts] are related because they are in the same areas," Baker said.

No arrests have been made and the police have no suspects in the recent string of thefts. Baker said the majority of thefts occurred between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the primary times when students are at class or in the dining halls. Sundays and Tuesdays seem to be the priority days for thieves.

"In our building most of the thefts happened during the day when students were at class," Coddington Resident Assistant Anna White said. "A lot of the time it was careless people leaving their doors unlocked."

According to Baker, two thefts were reported to campus police on Feb.1, two on Feb.3, one on Feb.8, four on Feb.10 and two more on Feb.13.

There were no signs of forced entry into any of the rooms, Baker said. Students left their doors unlocked, which allowed thieves to enter their rooms.

"I should have had my door locked but that's something I shouldn't have to worry about," sophomore Aldrich resident Nini Perone said.

Perone said she noticed her Macbook was stolen when she returned to her room after watching President Barack Obama's inauguration in her suitemate's room. Perone said her door was shut but unlocked. She said she was gone for no more than 20 minuets.

"Now if we're using the bathroom or the next room we lock [the door]," Perone said.

Burnside Hall resident Matt Marn said his neighbors' laptops were stolen because they left their door unlocked. Marn said he never noticed anyone suspicious in the dorms and still feels safe in the residence halls as long as he keeps his door locked.

According to Baker, the university police are working with Housing and Residential Life to educate residents about preventative measures.

"Once we'd done the analysis, we spoke with the vice president of Housing and Residential Life and he had meetings with RAs," Baker said. "Police have stepped up patrols in areas and in dorms."

White said she and other RAs have been hanging posters that remind students to lock their doors and avoid door propping. White said she has personally spoken with residents about the issue.

Posters hanging in the Burnside common area read "An Equation Problem: Propped + Unlocked = Laptop Theft."

Housing and Residential Life Assistant Director Charles Hall said the most important thing for students to do is lock their doors. He also suggested that students should purchase laptop locks.

"The biggest thing is lock your door and lock your laptop," Hall said.

Baker said the laptops' serial numbers were entered into a national database that logs stolen items, which will help the police find and return stolen laptops.

"If somebody sees something suspicious, no matter where it is, they should call campus police immediately so we can investigate," Baker said.