Given kids bring so many expensive items to dorms today (iphone, ipad, laptop) vs when us parents were students,
what have you experienced in regards to theft on campus ?
Do many kids take protective measures, such as those sold here :
http://www.dormco.com/College_dorm_security_supplies_dorm_necessities_s/35.htm?gclid=CJ3zzYaIoM0CFYw2gQodkBIO2w
Older kid getting a single this year, last year had roommate who would not lock door.
He had nothing stolen but glad he has a single now. Younger kid heading off for fresh year,
at a school with triples in most dorms. I suggested looking at above site, he was resistant.
Not sure if it’s the inconvenience or concern about social issues.
Thoughts ?
My son’s U required insurance. I checked with my home owners but it has limits on electronics and a $1000 describe. For a very reasonable rate, I purchased a student plan, CSI, which covered damage (including water damage)or theft in dorm or not while he is enrolled. By Sept his watch was stolen. Investigator revealed there had been other thefts in his dorm. Insurance required proof of ownership (I had receipt) and police report. Covered it with a $25 decductible.
When I was reading up on it, I decided to also purchase it for his older sister. She also had a claim for water damage to her phone while she was on a full time out of state coop position.
More than paid for itself with one claim.
Some insurance policies require evidence of break in for theft claims.
This policy would have to be very specific to the normal dorm situation.
Sounds like it was.
I was leaning towards prevention over insurance, but it sounds like a policy specific
to the situation might be worth considering. What was the reasonable rate ?
My college is fortunate enough to have automatically locking doors- you could check if that’s the case. If your younger son’s room doesn’t, you could ask him to mention locking the doors to his roommates as a ground rule.
My room also had lockable drawer, but I used it very minimally eventually, but I did keep one or two important things that I didn’t use often in there. I knew plenty of people who didn’t use the drawer, and I don’t think I ever saw someone with a safe. During the weekdays I generally brought my phone/laptop with me all day to study/do homework, so I didn’t see any need to take laptop securing measures. Make sure to lock the windows when he’s gone from the room, especially if he’s on a lower floor. If he’s higher up I doubt that will be a huge deal.
Alarms really aren’t necessary- what if it’s just his roommates coming in late while he’s out or asleep? Then you annoy the roommates and potentially disturb the entire floor during quiet hours or something.
They asked for the U name before my quote so it may vary. I paid $125. It has a $25 deductible. My more responsible D had a computer lock, but in libraries etc she takes valuables with her to bathroom etc. son is more fly by the seat of his pants. I knew my son had a second claim but I just remembered. He rolled over on his glasses and broke frame. Covered with a $25 deductible.
I have heard that prescription drugs are a target and should be locked up. Small safes can just be carried out. My sons dorm did not have auto locking doors. They did have one drawer with a loop for a padlock, so I made sure he had a padlock, and I discussed using it regularly.There were often several guys in playing video games, watching movies. His room mate had a credit card taken and a floor mate had golf clubs (!) stolen.
I cannot imagine an alarm in a dorm setting.
Really need vigilance and consistent use with any precautions. I am glad I had the insurance and second semester there were no incidents. He is moving to an apartment and I will be purchasing the insurance again.
This is my personal experience, but watching your stuff, keeping it close, and keeping your door closed should be plenty fine. My school does have autolocking doors, which probably helped, but I have never heard of any on-campus theft besides bike theft.
DD1 went to Boston University, a very large urban campus. I bought the locking deal for the laptop - it was a complete waste. Never had a single thing stolen in college, nor did anyone she knew. Yes, they all have expensive stuff, but are rarely separated from it. And all the dorm doors are both locking and fireproof in the dorms she lived in, so the bigger problem was getting locked out. I honestly was kind of sad when I saw that none of the rooms were ever open for casual conversations - that was one of my favorite parts of college back in the dark ages!!
Bought the computer lock but suspect it was never used. Similarly, D2 has a steering wheel lock on her car parked in a large city…when I left it parked there I couldn’t lock the device but we agreed that the visual deterrent was probably more effective anyway.
Most of those things seem unnecessary. i have never had anything stolen in college and don’t tend to lock my doors. Then again our school does have an honor code and most people are pretty trusting. The only exception is I would get a bike lock if you are bringing a bike to campus. If you don’t want to get anything stolen the two things would be A) Set up an agreement with your roommate to lock your doors before leaving. Talk to them about guest policies and what items you feel comfortable with sharing. B) Don’t leave expensive items unattended and out in the open. The whole dorm-safe thing and mini-vaults seem like overkill.
My son will be a freshman and I was concerned about his prescription medication and his credit card getting stolen (not by roommate but by visitors or people who would enter an unlocked room). I purchase this small safe. It will attach to the rod on his closet, is small, and can be hidden at the end of the rack, behind his clothes. I agree that it’s very important to lock the door, hopefully he and his roommate will remember to do so.
http://www.dormco.com/Mini_Vault_College_Dorm_Safe_p/mvalt.htm
My son’s college had thefts in the past, and tightened up dorm entrance policies as a result.
In past one could gain access to any dorm building with a student ID, now only to your own building.
Still possible for a non-resident to enter, as you know, so unlocked inner doors are still a risk for laptop
and other theft. Not common, but as I see it, a missing laptop can be very difficult in the middle of a semesters with projects and homework due. Not a time to buy another one, even if you had insurance and would be reimbursed. Better to secure it than be sorry. I too went to dormco or a way to lock up electronics and other. As an athlete, my S would be away without the laptop for periods of time, good to have somewhere to leave it that is not so easily accessible. May be overkill but hopefully we’ll never know.
Agree with @shawnspencer, I’ve kinda been spoiled with an honor code. In high school, too. I do have a lockbox tho.