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Getting a Lock on Campus Security
By Linda Rudder, Marketing Manager, Microfridge
Preventing personal property theft on campus is getting renewed attention at U.S. colleges and universities. At the Campus Safety Conference and Expo held recently by the South Carolina Commission of Higher Education Foundation, attendees identified theft from unlocked student rooms as one of the main issues of concern to college and university officials.
Theft is the most common campus crime. Most items are stolen from vehicles and unlocked or unattended rooms. Among the most popular items stolen are laptop computers. For students across the country, a personal computer is one of their most important study tools. Keeping a laptop safe on campus – especially in a residence hall – is becoming more challenging as the number of laptop thefts continues to grow.
According to Safeware, a Columbus, Ohio-based company that insures computers, in 1999, nearly 320,000 laptops valued at $8 million were stolen across all sectors, including businesses, hotels and convention centers, and schools. In 2001, the company’s notebook PC claims rose 70% from the previous year and accounted for 96% of all claims handled by the company. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the number of laptops stolen in this country is second only to automobile theft.
Personal property and peace of mind at risk
Laptops are good targets for thieves because they are easy to steal and resell. Often, they are resold by thieves for less than half of their original value, which can range anywhere from several hundred dollars to $5,000.
College and university students are now at greater risk for laptop theft because they are increasingly shifting from desktop systems to the convenience and mobility of laptops. Besides being used as personal study tools, many institutions require students to have a particular PC or laptop. Some campus officials also advise students to purchase insurance for their notebook PCs.
Although loss of valuable data, research, e-mail, and other material can be devastating, laptop theft also adversely affects a student’s sense of well-being. Losing a research paper at the end of a semester when critical deadlines are looming can add significant stress to a student’s life. Being a victim of any crime can leave students feeling powerless and disrupt their ability to concentrate on their schoolwork.
Institution officials should recognize the importance of reminding students to regularly back-up their crucial files to a disk, zip drive, or some other external media. If their laptop is stolen, the potential damage to their work won’t be so disastrous. This is a good habit to develop that will also serve them well in their careers.
New approaches to securing personal property
As a result of increased theft, laptop protection systems have proliferated in the past few years. Physical security devices that deter laptop thefts, including tie-down systems, cable locks, alarms, and sensors for alerting users that someone is tampering with the computer, and even motion detectors, can be used to discourage laptop thieves.
Laptop cable systems, for example, are inexpensive and easy to use. Except for inconsistent use by owners and an occasional bolt cutter, they are good deterrents to theft.
Security officials at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology encourage the use of the Caveo anti-theft system for Windows laptops. This PCMIA card, which you can arm or disarm, has a motion detector that emits a 110-decibel alarm if the laptop is moved beyond a user-specified perimeter. Other features include the ability to encrypt selected files and block access to the operating system.
Stop tags, which are glued to the laptop case and require up to 800 pounds of pressure to remove leave an etched stolen property inscription and phone number for recovery. Because many laptops are stolen for resale, those that have been tagged are not as marketable.
In-room security
Although protecting laptops is a concern, preventing the theft of other personal property is also important. According to a survey conducted by the Independent Insurance Agents of America, Inc., (IIAA) more than 100,000 property crimes on college campuses are reported to police each year. Thieves steal an average of $1,250 in student property per theft.
Stereos, DVD players, VCRs and TVs are popular targets for theft as well as smaller items such as cameras, jewelry, cell phones, wallets, cash, credit cards, electronic equipment, passports, and other important personal documents.
To further combat theft of smaller items including laptops and other valuables, students are increasingly using in-room safes, which are appearing more frequently on campuses. These secure storage devices enable students to store their valuables safely out of sight. Institutions may choose to permanently install safes to protect students and their belongings more effectively.
Influencing behavior
Technology and knowledge can help minimize security breaches, but training is still a critical component in campus safety. Security technology is only effective if it fits into the user’s regular routine and is easy to use. Surveys have found that laptop users won’t use security systems that inconvenience them. Ultimately, it’s up to individual users to prevent laptop theft. Owners need to be careful in public places and take steps to ensure someone doesn’t try to snatch their machine.
Training programs for students, emphasizing the importance of identifying potential crimes or security breaks, are growing at colleges and universities. Highly qualified, well-trained security forces also help to make campuses safer for residents. An alert student population and a trained campus security force contribute to making college and university campuses safer for everyone.
Protecting students’ personal property is a growing challenge for campus security forces. Influencing student behavior on issues such as locking their rooms, storing personal property in safes, and securing laptops in public places such as classrooms, labs, and libraries, will go a long way toward preventing laptop theft at colleges and universities nationwide.