<p>I was just wondering if having a small safe or lockbox in a dormroom is a good idea? is that normal? </p>
<p>I guess I'm a bit apprehensive about leaving some items in my dorm while I'm not there. I don't expect anyone to steal but it does happen. I wear certain jewelry items each day which total several thousands of dollars(2ct diamond studs and diamond & sapphire rings) and when I go to the gym I normally remove them. I would like to be able to leave them in a safe rather than just sitting in my dorm... Plus, important papers for insurance and stuff like that. </p>
<p>Anyone? Thoughts? </p>
<p>My concern is that having a lockbox would make people think that I have good stuff to steal. I really don't but it's also peace of mind for me knowing exactly where things are and that they are safe in there. My parents are like "leave everything valuable at home" but I bought these things and have insurance on them and intend to wear them! </p>
<p>IMHO, I think you're just asking for trouble....leave the good stuff at home and wear it on school breaks and in summer. Any small safe that can fit easily into a dorm room can also be easily carted off by 1 or 2 determined people, to be broken into at their leisure.</p>
<p>Hmmm... I guess I feel like why not? I have insurance on the items so if they're stolen or lost or whatever I only pay a small deductible. Of course I would prefer them not be taken but things happen. I routinely wear jewelry and I guess I'm used to it... no different than the millions of teenage girls swooning over Tiffany ANYTHING. That's more likely to be taken than my stuff. </p>
<p>So, to the girls... do you take any jewelry? Earrings? Watches? I mean my watch is a couple hundred dollars. Most of my jewelry were gifts from people who know I like jewelry. </p>
<p>Hmmm... when you think about it, a safe really attracts more attention than its worth.</p>
<p>I agree, only bring stuff that is necessary. However, in terms of safes and lockboxes...my brother bought a small filing cabinet that can be locked. and inside, he kept in a small locked box any extra money he had. That could be a good solution for you.</p>
<p>I'm with KrazyKow, I'm worried about the important things in life like my iPod, laptop, digital camera, video camera, cd burner etc. I'm going to be a multimedia major so I have many things I can't live without. You can't control if/when your roomate locks the door. You hate to be paranoid or have anyone think you would suspect them of stealing but.......what to do, what to do....</p>
<p>jewelry that costs "several thousand dollars" should be left at home. Buy some pretty, but inexpensive pieces that would be less of an inducement to thieves, and that you would not be overly upset to have stolen. Even though your expensive jewelry is insured, it would be a major hassle to make the claim. Buy inexpensive pieces and just leave them on when you go to the gym. Meanwhile, part of the fun of living in a dorm is that people can visit easily on the hall. You'll miss out on that if you constantly keep the door locked. Plus you cannot really police your roommate's door-locking habits (or your roommate, for that matter). It's probably enough to keep cash and small electronics out of sight when you leave the room, but I would leave expensive jewelry at home.</p>
<p>You may also find that your friends and classmates in college are a more economically diverse group than you've known in high school. Are you really going to be comfortable wearing jewelry worth thousands of dollars when there are people around who have to budget their scholarship money to buy food? Conspicuous wealth is a major no-no at some schools (and normal at others).</p>
<p>When you first go to college, lots of colleges will have you sign a contract with your roommate. If you want the door to be locked, include that in the contact, and your roommate will then be required to lock it. I'm going to have very expensive laptop and desktop computers in my room, and I don't want those stolen, so I'm going to make it clear to my roommate that the door stays locked when we aren't in it.</p>
<p>At my older sister's school, they recently implemented a new locking system. Basically, all the doors in the dorms have hotel-style locks. Your key is a key-card, and the door locks automatically when you close it (a la a hotel)!</p>
<p>Just because you're insured doesn't mean having things stolen is easy. Definitely leave the diamonds at home, and go for something cheaper. And another point-- I have inexpensive jewelry at school, and though I wore jewelry all the time in high school, in college I have many more important things to worry about than looking good.</p>
<p>Personally, as a middle class girl with lots of financial aid, I would probably hold a grudge against you if you were parading around your diamonds and sapphires. You will most likely be living with people who could never afford such items. Leave the jewelry at home for the comfort of you and those around you.</p>
<p>Great... now I've got everyone thinking that I'm a spoiled brat! LOL! Like I said, most of this stuff was bought for me as a gift(relatives in the industry so a really common gift in my family) and the few pieces that I bought aren't worth that much.</p>
<p>... the locked file cabinet is a really good idea. It's big enough so you can store electronics in it. Great idea to those that mentioned it. </p>
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Personally, as a middle class girl with lots of financial aid, I would probably hold a grudge against you if you were parading around your diamonds and sapphires.
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<p>Wow, talk about reverse snobbery. The OP wasn't asking what you thought of her jewelry collection, but rather, if you know a safe way to protect it. </p>
<p>With that said, I would recommend leaving it at home too. I have a lot of money in jewelry and accessories too and I don't want to risk the chance of a jealous person breaking into my room and stealing them or destroying them out of spite. I think if you find that your dorm is a generally safe area and you don't have a problem keeping the door locked then you can choose to bring them back after one of your breaks.</p>
<p>uc_benz- I recommended leaving her jewelry at home and supported my argument-- with reasons that seem a little more reasonable than a jealous person destroying it out of spite.
I was simply commenting on what she and texas137 said-- not making rash comments about one's snobbery.</p>
<p>Hide the small electronics when you leave the room....as for your laptops - my kids have the cord lock - it plugs into the back of the laptop and wraps around and through a couple of your desk legs, then reattaches to itself....has a combination lock to disconnect. Seems to work just fine - going on 3 years now.</p>
<p>how you got the jewelry is immaterial - it does not matter whether it was a gift, or you inherited it, or found it, or won it in a contest, or picked it up in a jewelry heist. If expensive jewelry (or designer clothes, or luxury cars) are not common in your college, you may feel self conscious about them. </p>
<p>Nothing you decide in August is permanent. Leave the jewelry at home while you check out both the security situation and what other people wear at college. Then make a decision about taking the jewelry back with you, or not, after one of your breaks.</p>
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Hide the small electronics when you leave the room....as for your laptops - my kids have the cord lock - it plugs into the back of the laptop and wraps around and through a couple of your desk legs, then reattaches to itself....has a combination lock to disconnect. Seems to work just fine - going on 3 years now
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<p>...and it's a good party trick to show everyone how those can be picked with a bic pen in about 10 seconds with no experience or knowledge of locks.</p>