<p>How big of an issue is it? Is it safe to leave your door unlocked when you’re in class? Are laptop locks/footlockers/other theft precautions recommended or unnecessary?</p>
<p>I’ll probably be in sub-free, if it’s relevant.</p>
<p>DD never had anything stolen, but then she did lock her room. It just makes sense.</p>
<p>My kid has never had anything stolen, but I don’t think he leaves stuff laying around either. You should lock your room door when you’re not there, but beyond that I don’t think you need room safes and that sort of thing. I guess if you leave your laptop unattended for long periods of time in the library or a classroom it might be a good idea to have a laptop lock. My kid has one but I don’t think he’s ever used it.</p>
<p>My daughter had a major theft in her dorm room last fall - she was virtually wiped out - laptop, expensive camera equipment she had borrow from Amherst for a film project, along with her own personal camera, Ipod,etc. But, there was a party in her dorm that night with students from other campuses in the building. She was on another floor visiting a friend who also lived in the dorm. It only took a few minutes. Also, students also let outsiders in the dorms who don’t have a keys to swipe themselves them in. This isn’t a frequent occurance, but it can definitely happen. So, it would be wise not to assume that you can leave your door unlocked or leave belongings unattended.</p>
<p>S1 had a trunk with a lock and a safe. Used the trunk to move things in at the beginning and then kept the safe (for important papers etc.) and other electronics in the locked trunk during the year. Also kept his laptop lock on at all times and always locked the door. Cell phone and Ipod were always in possession.</p>
<p>I didn’t lock my door once all year and never had a problem. Kids on my floor always left stuff out. Every single night there would be at least 1 iPod and 2 laptops left out in the common room (unlocked). Nobody ever had a problem. Granted, I was in South, which is much smaller and closer-knit than other dorms, but still.</p>
<p>You do hear, however, about laptop thefts at Val every now and then, but it’s rare.</p>
<p>Overall, I’d say it’s a very safe community, but I would advise locking your door non-the-less.</p>
<p>Anonymous315, I totally agree about the overall safety of Amherst. This is why my daughter didn’t even think of locking her door to go to another floor. But, this was an unusual situation with people in the building from off campus. She wasn’t the only person burglarized that night. She was just unlucky. She also said people leave things out all the time without any concern about theft. Also, my daughter lived in South her first year and there were no problems.</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing, lmpw. I can’t imagine what a pain that must have been to deal with. I don’t think I’ll get a footlocker but I’m hoping that I’ll be comfortable enough to leave my laptop in my room without a lock, if I need a quick pee or something.</p>
<p>You really don’t need to worry about your stuff if you’re just taking a shower or something, but should lock your door if you’re leaving for class or for a longer amount of time. There aren’t many thefts at Amherst but they do happen. </p>
<p>Amherst police recommend that you lock your room at night. It’s probably a good idea, especially on weekends when drunk students might stumble into your room instead of their own. Not a fun surprise for either of you.</p>
<p>I lock my door when I leave campus. Actually, I couldn’t really work my lock for most of this past semester, so I called Campus Police to lock my door when I left for Spring Break. Generally if you’re on the first floor and there’s a party going on, you should lock your door. Don’t be stupid, but you don’t have to be paranoid either.</p>