I am very concerned with protecting my valuables whilst I attend college and live within a traditional dorm environment. As a result, I am looking to secure all my items in a single locker or trunk that I can send on a plane as luggage (under 62 inches). I want one with a secure lock, durable construction, and circular tab on which I may attach a chain to secure the entire locker to my bed frame. Any recommendations much appreciated.
Neither a trunk or a locker would have worked in my daughters’ rooms in college. There wasn’t enough room in the one that was in a lofted bed between the end of the bed and the closet, and I can’t picture a way to secure it to the lofted bed if the trunk were on the floor.
For the other daughter who had a single with a built in desk, the bed wasn’t really bulky enough to chain a trunk to it, a trunk wouldn’t have fit under the bed (single, low to the floor). I guess there would have been room in the closet, but securing it would have been hard.
Wait until you get a room assignment and see what it looks like. Most trunks I’ve seen wouldn’t make it if checked on an airplane.
I would never recommend sending valuables in checked luggage of any kind.
Leave most valuables at home. Carry your laptop on the plane with you.
My D has a small dorm safe that secured to her bed and is hidden from sight. She uses it for her passport, credit cards, cash. She takes her backpack with her laptop with her most everywhere.
I also agree with not buying anything until you have your room assignment. Not a chance a big trunk would have fit in my D’s dorm room last year.
Once you get to school and see what will fit you can buy something appropriate. Trying to buy a trunk/locker and sending it on an airplane is way more hassle than it’s worth.
What valuables are you intending to take that would require being stored in a big trunk?
Mwfan1921, I’d like to clarify that I’m not shipping any super valuable in the trunk. I will only be sending clothes, toiletries and other regular items through the airport; however, I plan on storing all my items in the trunk for lack of any other location of equally high security within my dorm. So that means my backpack with textbooks, a laptop, headphones, etc, along with the aforementioned everyday essentials.
one1ofeach — well, I was thinking I could use the trunk as a suitcase of sorts, so that it would be similarly difficult to work with as any necessary luggage would be. I put clothes and toiletries in a luggage-sized trunk, secure it with TSA locks, and send it over without having to pay oversized luggage surcharge. I definitely see your point though, and I’ll consider finding some means of acquiring trunk near the college on my visit.
momofsenior1 — I think it’s really nice that you’re helping so many people out on these forums! Thanks for the advice, I did not really consider the size restraints until you mentioned it: I now see that the room could perhaps have no real space (other than that necessary to walk) between furniture, and the bed height could vary. I do feel like I’ll have to find somewhere to store my clothes and backpack that locks, but I’ll definitely have to know more about the size of the room first.
twoinanddone — Okay, I’ll definitely have to see. It’s a real shame that dorm often do not empower students to secure their own belongings. I’ve had a few friends be victims of theft by friends of their roommate or people sneaking in when someone accidentally leaves the door unlocked. I’ll have to think of something that works for the room when I see it, as you say. Thanks!
The locking of the door room is essential and the best protection against theft. Most dorm thefts are crimes of opportunity. Hopefully you will get a roommate who will be equally as diligent or you’ll be in a dorm with automatically locking doors. (My D’s dorm is like that…kind of a pia to take keys to the bathroom but better than worrying about having your stuff stolen.)
The other thing is that there are so many locking storage solutions for dorms these days that won’t need to take up too much space, but big enough for laptops and headphones You can order on Amazon and have it delivered to your dorm once you know how much room you have.
Are you coming from another country? Anyway, Bed Bath and Beyond, if there is one near your college, has a service called Pack and Hold…you shop online at home and then pick it up and pay in person (it will all be gathered up for you) when you move in at school. You can also, as move in nears, order things online and have them shipped to your campus address (packages will be held at a distribution center on campus).
I haven’t heard of people locking their clothes and books, but you do you! Once you get your dorm assignment you can hopefully figure out if a trunk could fit. It could, if you loft your bed, or put it at the foot etc. But you won’t be able to send it back on the airplane at the end of the year.
momofsenior1 — I definitely agree. I have had multiple friends stolen from on account of someone forgetting to — or not caring to — consistently lock the dorm room. I am glad to hear some doors lock automatically now, as I feel that is a far more secure option. Thanks again.
Have you already been accepted to and chosen a school? Many schools have dorms that need an id to enter that might help as well. Are you going to a college known for lots of crime? Having to lock up your clothing will be a hard way to live.
TS0104 — I’m a native. I will likely have to fly, though, because many of my college picks are too far to drive to, and I don’t have a car, regardless.
I do like the idea of packing light and picking things up on-spot. Using such a method as you describe, I could probably manage with a small suitcase and carry-on, getting further supplies after my flight
I have heard of clothes being stolen from dorm rooms. It’s a rarity, I gather, but I’m a sort of uptight person when it comes to my security, and I think the piece of mind brought by securing all my goods would do me well. I’ll probably take your advice — and the advice of other kind people here — by waiting until my dorm assignment to choose a chest, leaving said chest in the dorm for my entire time there. That way, I’d only have to transfer my personal goods to a suitcase when I travel home for break. Thanks!
Also, there are some colleges where freshman can have single rooms. Once you are admitted I would research this and make a case to the housing office for a single if possible.
one1ofeach — Nothing is definitive yet, as admissions decisions are not issued by my picks until at least mid-February. Roughly half of my college picks are larger schools known for some crime, though none of them are extraordinarily unsafe. I’d be fine leaving T-shirts, socks and such in whatever closet may be available, but I’d definitely want to lock up a coat I plan on bringing, my jeans and my shoes. It also really depends on the level of security present at the dorm. If the rooms automatically lock and you need an ID to enter the building, then I’d be way more willing to leave out clothing items that are easy enough to replace.
Get a locker which is big enough for valuables including laptop, can be tied to the bed, can be hidden under the bed. It should have key and lock pad, must be fire and waterproof and not too heavy.
Look for something like this.
CupCakeMuffins — Ah, I see; a safe sounds like a good option as well. I’ll probably be fitting a laptop, pair of headphones, maybe jeans and a coat in there, so a good-sized safe would be functional. Thanks for the recommendation.
The stuff you would be mainly concerned about being theft targets would be:
- Small valuables (e.g. currency, credit cards, mobile phones, jewelry or expensive watches, etc.).
- Laptop computers (be sure to make backups of your data, because losing your term paper because your laptop broke or got stolen would be inconvenient).
- Prescription drugs, particularly those that attract recreational (ab)users (e.g. ADHD drugs, opioid painkillers).
- Firearms (if they are allowed to be kept in the place you live in).
Regarding clothing, it is hard to see that being much of a theft target unless you are bringing stuff like Canada Goose jackets and the like.
I don’t know that I’ve been in any dorm over the past couple of years visiting with my kids that didn’t require a student ID to be swiped to enter the dorm building, then often, as well, a swipe is required to enter the residential hall doors or elevator (then the dorm room itself has its own key or is coded just for the kids who live there).