<p>I was planning on bringing a TV, laptop, etc. to the dorm, but I am leary of doing that because I dont know how much theft goes on in the dorms. If I just keep my door locked at all times and such, do you think I will be ok?</p>
<p>Nobody is going to break down your door so you should be OK as long as you use common sense. Hide your valuables and make sure you know who is in your room at all times.</p>
<p>As long as your door is closed and locked at all times when you're not in the room, there won't be a problem. Of course, that can be a hassle for you and your roommate(s), especially when you're just stepping out next door to your floormate's room or the bathroom or whatever. It would be good to invest in a laptop security cable (and maybe even one for the TV)...they don't cost all that much.</p>
<p>I can only comment on the situation in Foothill as those are the only dorms I've stayed in. It would be difficult for any person without access to the buildings to steal any of your stuff. It has happened, though, namely last semester someone apparently broke through a window, reached in, grabbed a laptop, and ran. Don't know what came of that, but it can happen.</p>
<p>However, gaining access to the building is easy, despite what they tell you about it being safe. People are stupid, they will let other people in and not think about it. In the end, you just have to be careful enough to remember to close your room door and suite door when you leave (and hope your roommates/suitemates care enough to do so as well). I personally never worried about stuff being stolen, left my door open when I went to do laundry and whatnot, and nothing was ever stolen from me.</p>
<p>Laptops are the only valuable I'd worry about that would be stolen. I'd say keep it on you at all times when you've got it, and when in your dorm keep it under something unless you're using it. They are just very tempting targets for theives (heck, a Bio 1A professor had his laptop stolen shortly before a midterm last semester--made pretty big news).</p>
<p>Berkeley lost a laptop containing the personal information (name, social security number, etc.) of its students. How comforting...</p>
<p>Theft isn't really rampant; then again depends on your hallmates. Just don't bring a lot of stuff (trust me you won't have enough space and you'll be irritated halfway through the year with the clutter) and get a cable lock if you have a laptop.</p>
<p>If you haven't heard this yet..this is the audio from the professor telling his bio1a class about his laptop....pretty scary!</p>
<p><a href="http://tinyurl.com/7pz95%5B/url%5D">http://tinyurl.com/7pz95</a></p>
<p>wow, damn
that is hardcore</p>
<p>Sounds like a good lecturer..</p>
<p>do you think i'd need to bring a lock for my computer (desktop)</p>
<p>Well, if the theif wants your computer, a lock isn't going to stop him.</p>
<p>Most crimes are crimes of opportunity. If your computer is sitting there without any cables, it's easier to steal. Lock it up, and the opportunity becomes a hassle and it will take time. And time is something that these criminals don't have if they want to remain away from a locked cell. A lock isn't going to stop him or her if their determined, but it will make it a bit harder.</p>