Western Courier

Issue date: 2/23/07 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Wayon Collins

How familiar is the following situation: You walk down the hallway of your residence hall to shower. Bringing your keys along is a nuisance so you leave your door unlocked. When you return 15 minutes later, you notice money or other valuables are gone.

You get mad because someone went in your room and stole your stuff. Shouldn't the real blame, however, be put on yourself for leaving your belongings vulnerable to theft?

Crimes, mainly theft, occur because people are careless and don't think small actions, such as locking your door, will make a difference.

According to the Office of Public Safety and John Biernbaum, vice president of student services and general common sense, students need to lock their doors.

According to Darcie Shinberger of University Relations and the campus crime reports, 11 thefts were reported in November, 23 in December and 13 so far this semester.

Lately, the OPS Beat in the WC has been filled with students filing reports because of theft. While they are doing the right thing, that step could have been avoided if they would have taken an extra three seconds to lock their doors.

Take the real world into consideration. Students will be graduating in the upcoming months and moving out on their own, possibly to an apartment in the city. Treat your residence hall room as an apartment in downtown Chicago. No one in his or her right mind is going to leave his or her apartment unattended for any amount of time because outside of a town like Macomb, thieves may do a lot more damage than stealing $10 out of your wallet.

Unlocked dorm rooms aren't the only way thieves are living better these days. There are also reports of laundry being stolen. Unattended laundry rooms are like free shopping malls to criminals. Yes, sitting there waiting for your laundry to be finished is a boring endeavor, but necessary if you don't want to be making a useless call to OPS. Do homework, study for a test or check Facebook, but take responsibility for your own belongings.

Moral of the story? Lock your doors whenever you leave your room, don't leave laundry unattended and lock up your belongings when you go to the recreation center. If you don't, the only person you have to blame is yourself.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools