<p>I know there are unpredictable variables, but in general, how safe are personal possessions in the dorms (Birnkrant in my case)? I'm thinking especially about laptops, external hard drives, passports, cameras, etc. I started wondering about this yesterday after getting the Bed, Bath & Beyond dorm stuff flyer and it had two types of safe/lockboxes that you chain to your desk or bed. Anybody who's lived in the dorms have any experiences to share? Some schools have virtually no problems with dorm property theft (Virginia) while others (nameless) have big problems. Where does USC fall in that category?</p>
<p>it’s highly unlikely that your roommate(s) will steal your stuff but you never know about randoms in the dorms. as long as you lock your door when you’re gone, even if it’s just to go to the bathroom, you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>I heard that for birnkrant, after a while when you get to know everyone on your floor, you stop locking your stuff inside your dorm because you know everyone already (since birnkrant floors aren’t too big). but yeah, like josebiwasabi said, randoms are a concern. as long as you lock your doors, you should be fine</p>
<p>i left my dorm room door open all the time if i was going to be somewhere on my floor. for example if i went and hung out in a friends room for like 10 mins or so or running to the bathrom, i would just leave my door open. its not the safest of ideas and there was a string of robberies 2nd semester in new/north last year. its just easier though i do advise to do it at your own risk</p>
<p>Josebiwasabi, I hadn’t even considered that my roommate(s) would take my stuff - if somebody had a roommate who would steal from his or her own other roommates, then you’re just screwed anyway. Really, I was wondering more about the random stuff - other USC students or guests that you don’t know or even people from your own dorm but not necessarily your friends. Basically, just the whole culture, whether it’s one of honesty and trust that’s based on fact as well as feeling or more like it’s the big city and everybody for him or herself with only a few friends to watch your back.</p>
<p>It doesn’t happen very often but somebody I know (and his roommate) got his laptop stolen.</p>