Thefts At Boston University Spike
BOSTON (CBS) -- Boston University police are warning students and faculty about a spike in thefts on campus.
There have been 33 cases of items reported stolen in the last two months. Police say the thieves are targeting high-tech items like laptops, cell phones, and iPods.
What's surprising to some, the crimes are happening in places where students feel secure, like the library, student union, gym, or cafeteria.
"These are crimes of opportunity," says Boston University's Police Chief Thomas Robbins. He says it happens when students leave their expensive items unattended, out in the open.
WBZ-TV's Christina Hager reports.
"Students in general, we just kind of trust our peers. Our locker rooms, everyone just kind of leaves stuff around," says student Delaney Moghanian.
Her friend Nicole Lasada agrees. "You have your homework all spread out everywhere in the library and you actually trust people to leave it alone," she says.
In one case, a staff member had a $1,200 laptop stolen. Chief Robbins warns it's more than just a monetary loss. "Some people have all their information on, say, a laptop, and if they don't back up the information on a hard-drive, they lose all their study material."
He sent out an email warning to the B.U. community and is recommending people register computers with the college. The process tags laptops to help police track them down if they're stolen.
The chief says the problem is not unique to B.U., and the numbers are not unusual. "We're always getting new students, so we have to continue to put out reminders."
