Tips for Students on How to Protect Your Property
This is all that remained of a pilfered Boston bike. The BUPD has tips for protecting yourself against campus thefts. Photo by Pat Greenhouse/Boston Globe
Tips for Students on How to Protect Your Property
Larcenies have risen sharply on campus in the last year as the pandemic has receded
Rising thefts at BU during the last academic year—also a trend elsewhere as campuses repopulated nationally after COVID-19 lockdowns—have prompted the Boston University Police Department (BUPD) to warn staff and students about protecting their property.
Between September 1, 2021, and July 10, 2022, 328 larcenies were reported on campus, up about 77 percent from the 2020-2021 academic year, which saw 185 larcenies, BUPD statistics show. This year’s thefts are 58 percent more than the 208 larcenies in 2019-2020. The percentages overstate the surge, however.
“When looking back further, beyond the academic years that have been impacted by COVID-19, the current number does not appear to be much of a surge,” says Robert Molloy, BUPD deputy chief. The current year’s larcenies exceed those in each of the two years before the pandemic by no more than 7 percent, he says.
“Boston University is not the only school facing this trend. Everyone in the area is dealing with larcenies,” says Molloy. “The most common items that are reported stolen are bicycles and scooters, clothing, computers, and money,” taken by scammers. “The majority of larcenies reported are unattended items that are taken from public spaces and/or common areas.”
The BUPD offers these tips for protecting yourself from thefts and thieves:
- Don’t confront a thief yourself.
- If you notice damage to your door, especially around the door handle, don’t enter the room or apartment. Go somewhere safe and call the BUPD.
- Lock your doors and any windows with access to a fire escape.
- Close any common doors into the building.
- Know your neighbors so that you can spot an unfamiliar intruder.
- Program your cell phone with the BUPD emergency number (617-353-2121), available 24/7. If you are off campus and need help, call 911. Text BUPD anonymously by texting “BU” to 847411.
- Be cautious about people trying to piggyback when you enter a building.
- Lock your bike—properly. Cable locks are easily penetrated by a pair of bolt cutters. U-locks have proven to be the best security for bicycles. If you need assistance, stop by BUPD headquarters on Harry Agganis Way, and an officer will show you the best way to secure your bike.
- Register valuables. If you report something stolen, having it preregistered might help you recover it or get some insurance reimbursement. The BUPD offers free laptop registration, and bike registration is available through Parking & Transportation Services. Registering your property allows them to put it in a national crime database. If the property is ever recovered, they can get it back.
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