Spring Break
Police say unlocked residence hall doors cause surge in laptop thefts
Mark Scialla
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: News
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.
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.
