<p>I’m with Juillet on this one. I’m very sorry about what happened, OP, but unfortunately the responsibility is going to end up on you, and while I agree it’s fine to ask the roommate for money, you can’t do much more than that (ie: force her). It’s a very uncomfortable place to be, but truly, you will learn a lesson from this.</p>
<p>I learned mine years after college, when I was travelling with two friends and put the entire hotel charge on my credit card. I only got payment from one of the two. From now on, I ALWAYS find a way to split big payments like that and refuse to do it any other way. But I had to learn that lesson the hard (and expensive) way.</p>
<p>The truth is, this was both of your faults. The roommate was being inconsiderate in your consistent requests to lock the door, but you were also perhaps not strong enough in enforcing this. Had you said, “When I go to bed, I’m locking the door from now on.” your laptop wouldn’t have been stolen - unless she came in after you were asleep using her key, and didn’t lock the door behind her – then if a thief snuck in while you both were sleeping, you would have a legitimate argument. Again, especially for people like myself who are trusting and always give people the benefit of the doubt, it instills that sense of doubt which is needed to not have this happen over and over again. You don’t have to mistrust everyone you meet, but it just teaches you to protect yourself, politely but firmly.</p>
<p>Again, I’m sorry this happened to you, and I would disagree with some of the harsher posters on here. You were well within your rights to ask, but now that it’s obvious she won’t pay up, you should move on. A painful and expensive lesson, but I promise, you will learn from this and it will pay off later down the line.</p>