My D's desk had a very secure drawer with metal reinforcements and a place to slip a padlock through so that a laptop, valuables, etc could be locked. There are also laptop locks. The FSU computer store sells them.
i had a desk with the lock for spring semester but to be honest, youll use it less and less as time goes on. its just a pain to put your laptop in it everytime you go to do something. i would leave (and so would the majority of other people) my laptop on my desk all day even if i wasnt there.
If you take a bike with you, make sure you use one of the "u-bolt" type locks rather than the chain type. The u-bold type cannot be cut with bolt cutters. Unfortunately, my DS used a chain type lock and his brand new bike was stolen from the front of Ragans last month at the beginning of summer session. Also....make sure you register everything with FSUPD.
About the laptops- I'd be more pised if I came into my dorm and found my laptop waiting for me- but broken into pieces due to the thief's frustration of being unable to break the lock.
In other words, I don't think laptop locks help much because at least a stolen laptop is a functional one... Just waiting to be recovered!
I'd go with a theft recovery system and some sort of safe, and yes I would secure it each time I went out.
Bringing a lock for the laptop is a very good idea. It lets you leave your laptop in the library or the study areas of the dorms for a quick drink/bathroom run/cell phone call without having to pack it back up. I'd expect any thieves to be kids quietly swiping a laptop than whacking one into pieces... The safety of your bike is another deal entirely as they are much more prone to vandalism if unused. Not needing my bike second semester I left it at the union and it remained unharmed. Leaving bikes to gather leaves along the road to the diner is certainly a big No No vandalism-wise. And I second registering bikes with the FSU PD.
You're in Salley Hall I'm guessing? Two of my friends lived in Salley and they were Terrible(!) about locking the door to the study room (but not their room?) I always took my purse with me instead of leaving it in their common room even when going downstairs to let somebody in. I didn't want it being slyly picked up by suitemate friends or whoever.
I understand what you're saying and I actually do agree with bringing a laptop lock for short-term breaks.
But I was just speaking from prior experience, and my post was concerning leaving a laptop over an extended period of time. Not all thieves will give up once they see a cord attached to an exposed laptop. And laptops are very fragile to being handled roughly. Screens can crack and hard drives can break with a small amount of force... And we know people can get frustrated when things aren't going their way.
But I do agree that for leaving a laptop short-term, especially in a public area, a notebook lock is a good idea.
Yes, I was assigned to Salley. Thank you all for your suggestions. I know my roomate, but don't know the other people. Is there anyway I can find out thru FSU?
Honestly, the people you live with will probably not steal from you(at least not big things like your laptop.) Keep your door locked and you should be fine.
Well. experience says that in life, the people you live with will steal from you, and their friends who come to visit (and pass through the study rooms in Salley) will too. Maybe not laptops, but cash, jewelry, and stuff laying around. Do not be too trusting. Be cautious. My D has been in dorm situations for the past 5 summers, and has completed freshman year. And, unfortunately, kids do take things, without asking, that they don't return. As in stealing.
Keeping your door locked is not enough. It is often not your roommate, but your suitemate or someone coming to pay a roommate or suitemate a visit. It's not that you have to lock eveything, but keep certain things OUT OF SITE, not just laying on the dresser. 4 people may have access to your room, you and three suitemates. If you share a bathroom, suitemates can come right through it to your rooom. Yes there are locks, but most times you are not locking the bathroom every time. Just be cautious.
