News > October 9, 2008

By Cheryl Johnson | Contributing Writer

It is not an uncommon sight to see students leave their backpacks or laptops on a table unattended. We all like to think that because we are attending this university we do not have to worry about our personal belongings being stolen; however, lately there has been a sharp increase in larceny over the past couple of months.

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According to University Police, laptops and wallets are among the hottest items being stolen. (Kelly Makepeace/Old Gold & Black)

It is a typical story: a student is working on a project and his friends walk by and invite him to lunch.

He leaves the laptop unattended while they eat and when he comes back an hour or so later, his laptop is gone.

“Students seem to have a false sense of security,” Police Chief Regina Lawson said.

“Wake Forest is a public community. You wouldn’t leave your laptop or wallet sitting on a table at the mall.”

While laptops and wallets are the hottest items being taken, bikes, book bags and credit cards are also becoming popular.

Students will leave their backpacks in chairs in the Pit to reserve tables while they grab some food and will come back and think nothing out of the ordinary has occurred.

However, once they go through their wallets later on, they discover that credit cards are missing.

In some more extreme cases, the student will not even know that a credit card is missing until unknown charges appear on a bill.

“Students should check their credit cards at least once a day,” Lawson said.

With the increase in larceny on the campus, many students wonder if there is any way to ensure that their personal property does not end up in unwanted hands.

One way is to register all your small portable electronics.

These items include iPods, cameras and phones.

To register these items visit www.wfu.edu/police/form-op-id.html and list all of your personal electronic items in the form.

When the items are registered, it is easier to return them to their rightful owners, and if the item somehow ends up in a pawn shop, the police will be notified that “Item A” with “Serial Number A” is trying to be sold at the pawn shop.

The police will then go and pick it up and return it to its owner.

Many students have bikes on campus and, although we would like to think that it is difficult to steal something as noticeable as a bike, reports show that approximately four bikes have already been reported missing this semester.

There are two ways to prevent your bike from getting stolen. 1) Register the bicycle with the Police Department and 2) chain the bicycle correctly.

Orange warning stickers are being placed on bicycles that are incorrectly chained or locked.

Also, locking dorm room doors while away or sleeping will help to lower the number of larceny incidents.

“It all comes down to personal responsibility,” Lawson said.

“Students should be on the lookout for suspicious activity and report it as soon as possible.”