NICOLE ALBERTSON
News Assistant
Since Sept. 6 2007, seven laptops have been stolen on Pepperdine’s campus. This is the largest theft increase that Pepperdine community has seen in almost 10 years.
“I can’t remember the last time there was this many laptop thefts in that short amount of time,” said Department of Public Safety Investigator Ed Young. Young has is currently investigating two separate stolen laptop cases.
In four instances the laptops were stolen from unlocked or unsupervised rooms.
“I was in class and my laptop was [unsecured] and my roommate left my door open,” said Sophomore Greg Lee. “My life was on that laptop. I was kind of dumb not to back [my files] up, but you never expect this type of thing to happen.”
Lee fell victim to a laptop theft on Sept. 6, and like the other reported victims, followed protocol by contacting the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for help.
DPS sent a private investigator to examine Lee’s case. Lee also contacted the Los Angeles Police Department to report his stolen property.
With so many people wandering the halls and thousands of identical laptops occupying Pepperdine’s campus, finding the perpetrator or a common theft becomes a nearly impossible task.
“The serial number is the most identifying tag and almost no one has it,” Young said. “Without the serial number it is hard to determine what has been stolen and what has not been.”
As the laptop thefts increase on campus, keeping a record of the serial number could be the solution to recovering a missing electronic. The serial number for any electronic can be entered into a national computer system that tracks the serial number. This system enables the administrators to track stolen electronics across the country whenever they are registered again.
Two of the cases involves laptops beeing stolen from locked offices in administration buildings, including the Center for Communication and Business and the Student Activities office. But the most recent thefts are affecting faculty members as well.
“I noticed that [the laptop] was gone when I came into work on Friday,” said Student Leadership Development Coordinator Kerri Heath. “When I got in on Friday, I noticed that the cord and the carrying case to the computer were in my office but the laptop was missing.”
Two of the cases are still being investigated and the other four have gone unsolved.
“I am still hoping someone will feel some remorse and bring [the computer] back,” Heath said. “This was a very expensive computer. I am not sure how we will find funding to replace it.”
Since the crime rates have increased dramatically since the beginning of the semester, DPS is looking into extra precautions to insure student and faculty safety.
“We put in requests for increase patrols around campus,” said DPS Deputy Director Dawn Emrich. “We partner with the Housing and Community Living Staff to get the word out to students to report any suspicious activity and be mindful of their property.”
But the rising rates of laptop thefts are forcing Pepperdine students to reevaluate their sense of security on campus. Students are advised to keep their doors locked and to always keep valuable belongings within their possession. New security precautions include a laptop lock that ties a laptop to another surface, such as a bed or desk, making it harder to steal.
“It is hard to rely on another person that you live with to be as careful about your stuff as you are,” Lee said. “But you can’t accuse anyone or point a finer at my roommate because it is such a hug offense. You just have to super precautious.”
To report a missing or stolen item or supply information for pending cases, please contact DPS at ext. 4700.
10-05-2007