<p>I got my two college kids the plastic trunks at Bed, Bath & Beyond or Wal-Mart (can't remember which one...) for the floors of their closets, and got them locks. Theft is always a concern in group living. Even if your kid and his/her room-mate try to remember to lock their door all the time, there are too many times when someone runs down the hall just for a minute to go to the restroom or they're having a party with people in & out... </p>
<p>Aside from theft, though, the locker ensured that my kids had someplace private to keep things. Another side-effect of group living is that many people think nothing of "borrowing" stuff, whether it's hot chocolate mix, your kids' emergency Aleve/Imodium/band-aids/condoms, printer paper, or a piece of jewelry...not every room-mate or suite-mate is going to have the same attitude about borrowing that your kid will have. Having a trunk or cabinet that locks can be a big help if they want to put something away.</p>
<p>Bought a little metal lock box that comes with a cable that you can wrap around a post or pipe. Mainly concerned about SS card, passport and jewelry. The locking file cabinet sounds good for larger items. We insured her laptop as she was sure she'd never use a lock.</p>
<p>I second what franglish said about the LoJack for Laptops. It's simple-to-install software that runs in the background so theives can't uninstall it without the installation code. If your laptop is ever stolen, simply alert the police and LoJack, and their technicians will send a code to the computer the next time the thief accesses the internet. This will give them the location where it is being used, allowing the police to retrieve it.</p>
<p>I would check with the school before I bought anything. YD's dorm room had a small cabinet built into the closet that she used. She just needed to bring a combination lock to use it. She did use a computer lock that wrapped around something to secure it.</p>
<p>We're another family that bought the laptop lock and noticed in May that the box had never been opened. This despite the fact our daughter knew several laptops were stolen out of her dorm. Lo-jack sounds like a good idea.</p>
<p>I knew she wouldn't use a safe for items she used regularly, like her iPod (she's too lazy). She didn't have much cash on her, and I don't think she had any items with her that were irreplaceable (except the contents of her computer). When the laptops were stolen, she became much more conscientious about locking her dorm room.</p>
<p>Franglish, that's a scary story about the intruder.</p>
<p>Older D used a small lock box we found at Wal-Mart and did fine with that. As others have said, you do have to hide it. She also used a lock on her computer.</p>
<p>Younger D uses a lock on her computer and has LoJack installed. We also got one of these GREAT footlockers from C & N - Trunks</a> - Trunks made in the USA. A great trunk for camp or college.. They are really nice and felt like it could follow her through life - become a coffee table in an apartment, etc. You can get wheels for the back so it can be pulled. She stores stuff in the bottom that she doesn't use much but might need - a heating pad, an ice bag, "medicine bag" (stocked with stuff for a cold, stomach ache, etc.), electric blanket, iron, generic gifts, etc. There is a tray in the top where she can put her laptop is she wants, money, small purse, etc. It rolls right under her bed and has worked out great!</p>
<p>As far as theft in dorm rooms, you do have the occassional intruder as franglish mentioned, but I think most theft occurs as a crime of opportunity. A laptop is left lying out, it is taken. A cellphone, camera, money or a wallet are thrown on a dresser, they disappears. If kids are just diligent about not leaving valuables lying around, they will be okay.</p>
<p>I'd be too paranoid about a footlocker. Wondering if it's hidden properly, if it's a too obvious hiding place, stuff like that. Plus, someone could just come in and take the entire locker, with someone's help.</p>
<p>I'm so glad my school has a locking desk, which is almost virtually impossible to move from the room unless you clear everything off and get a couple more people to help you, nevermind the noise you'd make.</p>
<p>If you get a locker, I'd say get a heavy one for them to stash under the bed. The sheets should cover it on the side, and if someone does find it, it'd be crazy to try to get out from under a bed and out of there without someone noticing.</p>
<p>My friend goes to a college around my area, and there was a crime spree last year.</p>
<p>All the doors were locked... They got in through the windows. Make sure your kids close their windows before leaving the room because if the situation presents itself, someone CAN and will get into a window, no matter how safe you think you are because you're not ground level. It happens. I'm not sure how, but it happens.</p>
<p>We had the same concerns last year when our daughter was going away to school. There was a locked drawer in her room for small items, and we bought a cable for her laptop, but we knew that she would be transporting it around a lot. She also provided the television set for her suite, and the door was frequently open, as was to be expected with eight girls going and coming. She was also taking a new bike, and some other semi-valuable items which could be a target for thieves. We ended up buying Student Insurance Property Protector Plus from the Fireman's Fund. It cost $101.00 for twelve months of protection and covered "all personal articles owned or in the care, custody, or control of the named insured while the insured is an enrolled student." It covered not only theft, but damage due to dropping, spilling drinks on, tripping over, etc. and she was covered for up to $4000.00, with a $25.00 deductible. I know that home insurance will cover students while they are at school, but I think that the deductible would be much more, and the premiums could rise. I read about this on CC last year, and people were pleased with it--and it has given us peace of mind, even though we didn't need to use it last year.</p>