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According to the U.S. Department of Education's 2002 Campus Crime Statistics study, more than 12,700 burglaries are reported on college campuses each year, proving that your stuff is just as valuable to a thief as it is to you. By taking the time to think like a crook and by following some simple thief-proofing tips, you can save yourself from being just another victim.

TIP # 1: Case the Joint
The number one way you can prevent a theft is by simply not letting the wrong person in your room. "Lock your doors," warns Garrett Moore, chief of campus security and safety for Denison University (Granville, OH). "Most of the thefts in residence halls are opportunistic -- that is, students leave their rooms unlocked and items are taken when they are left unattended."

Brett Goldenhorn, a freshman at Indiana University (Bloomington, IN), can attest to this advice. "I went to a football game and left my key at home," recounts Brett. "Ernest, my roommate, left the door open for me so I could get in later. People came in and stole a lot of our stuff." For both Brett and Ernest, leaving the door unlocked was a $4,500 mistake, resulting in the loss of their stereo, computers, CDs, DVDs, and GameCube.

And sometimes, students actually invite thieves in willingly. "Pick your friends wisely," warns Mike Grant, director of security services for Lenoir Rhyne College (Hickory, NC).

"Don't allow people to wander in and out of your rooms unchecked. Sometimes they are casing your room with you in it."

In addition to locking your own room, make sure the door to your building or hall is locked, and don't let strangers into your dorm. Those door codes or card swipes are there for a reason.

TIP #2: Assess the Loot
How much is your room worth? If you like to play Xbox, sport fine jewelry, and jam to your iPod, the answer is probably a lot.

"Don't bring ridiculously nice things with you to college," says Theran Fisher, a grad student at Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL). "The only people who care about what you have are the ones who want to take it."

After having $200 worth of textbooks stolen from his dorm, Theran's a bit wiser about how to thief-proof his room. For valuable necessities, like computers, books, and televisions, Moore recommends marking items of value, and if possible, locking them up.

"[Students] should mark their valuables with identifying numbers, possibly with UV marking devices that can't be seen with the naked eye," says Moore. "Keep valuables under lock and key. A safe is ideal."

If you think that's going overboard, Grant adds that identifying marks not only prevent theft, but also help recover valuables in case theft occurs. "We sometimes find items but cannot positively ID them," he remarks.

Limiting the pricey possessions you bring to college and permanently marking those you do bring makes your place that much more unattractive to thieves.

TIP #3: Perfect Your Timing
As they say, timing is everything. Caitlin Miller, a junior at Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, VA), learned this lesson the hard way when she returned from class to find $100 missing from her wallet.

"I used to put my class schedule outside my door so people could see when I wasn't there," she says. "That probably ended up being the thief's best friend."

"Theft from residence halls during break periods, such as winter and spring break, can also be a problem," states S. Daniel Carter, senior vice president of Security OnCampus, Inc., a King of Prussia, PA-based nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public on campus safety issues. "Valuable property is often left unattended for weeks at a time, leaving it unreported once stolen and thus long gone. Valuable items should be taken home or to another location if at all possible."

Trusting your schedule with a friend is one thing. Trusting your schedule with the world is another. Prepare your room for your absence, whether that means simply locking the door or taking the DVD player with you on the road.

TIP #4: Become a Rat
If a dorm theft does occur, the best thing you can do is report it to both campus security authorities and others living in your building.

"Do not put it off until later," warns Grant. "Immediately contact security. Also talk to your suitemates or others on the hall or in the building to see if they may have seen anything unusual." By posting the theft on a community bulletin board, you're alerting those around you to be careful and watch out for your things.

For Brett, asking friends and hallmates if they had seen anything suspicious led to the return of his valuables. "Friends gave us information and we followed up," he says. "We basically found the thieves ourselves and called the police to retrieve our stuff."

Unfortunately, most crimes don't have such a happy ending. Preventing a theft before it happens is the most effective way to safeguard both your possessions and yourself. "I learned a valuable lesson from this," remarks Caitlin. "It's still good to trust people, but it's also good to protect your property and not leave it open to anyone who wants it."


Christina Couch is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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