OUR VIEW: Campus theft is easily deterred

Every fall, when students return to campus, the crime rate at USU goes up. Maybe it’s because the thieves return to campus as students each fall, but more likely it’s because there is an increased number of laptops, iPods and bicycles lying around just begging to be stolen.

Theft rates in Logan are a far cry away from places like New York and other major cities, so often students feel invincible, leaving their bikes unlocked and apartment doors open, which makes it easy for thieves to stroll by and take whatever they please.

Thefts are usually crimes of opportunity and right now, as a student body, we are consistently giving thieves that opportunity.

It’s a common occurrence to walk past unchained bikes, open apartment doors with no one visible inside and the occasional iPod or other expensive device laying on a table or bench as its owner chats on a cell phone, unaware of their surroundings. We are practically begging to be victims of crime.

Some students set themselves up to become a victim simply because they don’t believe a theft, or any crime for that matter, could ever happen to them. With three confirmed cases of theft this semester in the HPER building alone, it has become apparent that not only can this happen, it is happening.

We, as students, need to recognize and take responsibility for our belongings so we are not filling out police reports later.

First of all, students need to lock up their bicycles to a bike rack. Every bike that has been stolen this year on USU’s campus was not locked up, something that could have deterred a thief long enough to keep the property safe. Second, students need to shut their apartment doors. As much as students want to mingle and meet new people, putting everyone in their apartment at risk for theft and other crimes should not be the way to go about it.

Third, students need to keep their personal belongings by them at all times. Don’t ever leave an expensive item alone for even a minute. It only takes a minute for someone to steal hundreds of dollars in electronic equipment that has been left laying around.

Lastly, we need to watch out for our fellow students. If we pay attention to our surroundings and report suspicious incidents as soon as they happen, maybe next fall semester fewer students will have to learn the hard way about fall crime rates at USU.