<p>In an old thread, someone mentioned a box to lock valuables. Is something like that needed for things like cameras, i-pods and cash? If so, what do people use? I would never have thought of this if I hadn’t read it. Thanks.</p>
<p>I’ve been thinking about this also - the only thing I’ve seen besides a small lock box (like a cash box - which could easily be stolen) is one of the footlockers - IMO though, these are too large.</p>
<p>I loved my trunk/footlocker when I was in the dorms. Didn’t lock things in it, but it was great storage for bulky items, and was used many times as a table or chair. That said, there was room for it. (definitely check ahead)</p>
<p>I wonder if colleges will ever go the way of hotels and have built-in safes in the closets. We didn’t even lock our doors back when I was in college. But I didn’t really have anything worth stealing either.</p>
<p>There was another thread on this here:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=77081[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=77081</a></p>
<p>Someone recommended the products from <a href=“http://www.dormvault.com%5B/url%5D”>www.dormvault.com</a>, which I think are pretty good since they can be attached to the bed frame. Anything else is small and lightweight enough to be easily removed from the room, though maybe a little hard to conceal. The DormVault cube safes look to be just about the right size, although a little pricey. I think I’m going to wait until S has been at school for a while and let him tell me whether he thinks he needs it. A lot depends on who his roommate and suitemates will be, whether they are good about keeping their door locked, etc.</p>
<p>A lock on a cheap tool box and a locking bike cable to lock it to the bed frame works and under the bed keeps it out of sight. Son’s room had a large compartment with a place for a lock so he lucked out there. I bought him a cable lock for his lap top but it took him 3/4 of the year to bother to use it.</p>
<p>Bethie: My son’s school has exactly what you describe. Did he ever use it? No. I thought it would be a great place for an Ipod or camera. Everytime I visited the Ipod was in the speakers and the camera was lying around somewhere in the room. I doubt that many kids will <em>unlock</em> an Ipod or camera every time they want to use them.</p>
<p>There’s generally not much reason to have cash at school. Set up a bank account locally; if possible, use the bank that has an ATM on campus. Most schools also have some sort of cash cards that can be pre-loaded for laundry; many restaurants or shops in areas local to colleges take these as well. </p>
<p>A passport can be easily <em>put away</em> in the room.</p>
<p>In my opinion, girls should not bring fine jewelery to college. Most colleges have a casual environment and it’s really not necessary.</p>
<p>I also bought locks for my kids’ laptops. Initially, I insisted that they lock their computers to their desks when out. That lasted about a day. I’m sure, however, they did lock them if they ever walked away in the library for a moment. We made it quite clear that if a laptop was stolen, they’d have to figure out how to afford the next one … a good incentive to be careful.</p>
<p>Most kids keep their dorm room doors open while they are on the floor, even if they are not in their rooms. I suppose you have to trust the people who surround you; if not, then one might reconsider and get a safe.</p>
<p>Our son didnt have a lockable box and never had a problem. I assume him and his roomie locked there room when out but maybe not. The laptop was not a big issue because every student was required to have one.</p>
<p>we drilled a hole in a letter sized lockbox and put a bicycle chain thru the hole and threaded it under D’s bedsprings. Ha - they don’t even lock their doors there, let alone valuables. I finally convinced her to please please please at least lock up her valuable jewelry or bring it home. (Never mind the please lock your door at night arguments!) She says she does, and in 3 yrs has never had anything stolen. D2 is going to a large state uni and we plan on bringing something similar as well as one of those laptop locks. It’s not just other students I worried about, but housing employees as well. As much as I love the fact that D1 is i such a safe place where theft is a rarity, she will graduate next year without a clue about the importance of personal safety I fear.</p>
<p>Absolutely encourage your kids to lock up their laptops even in their dorm rooms. My son’s roommate had his stolen last year when suitemates left the door to the suite open - elevator/stairs were nearby. My son’s laptop was locked and not taken - although his backpack was. Oddly enough his Ipod was on the nighttable but was not taken.</p>
<p>Yup. Lots of stuff gets stolen in dorms. But, will the kids use them? Well, mine won’t, in spite of the fact that he has had stuff stolen! Grrrrr</p>
<p>On the other hand, I refuse to replace anything that he loses or wrecks or gets stolen. So, not my problem.</p>
<p>Simple rule… don’t take anything that you’ll really miss or can’t be easily replaced. For mine it meant leaving CD’s at home and bringing burned copies. Minimal amount of jewerly. I was going to say hiden in the underwear drawer, but D goes to school in OR where they’ve had a couple of major underwear thieves (one guy 5,000 pairs) the last few years.</p>
<p>Dorm rooms have automatic locks, with numerical codes to enter. Even so, I’ve seen S leave laptop, wallet, even money lying open in study/computer room in his House, & nothing taken. I think the kids take Honor system seriously.</p>
<p>The only time I heard of stolen objects when when workmen were in a House to rehab. Sad state of affairs.</p>
<p>Just one experience - times three ;). </p>
<p>I’m sure there are thefts of all kinds of things at all kinds of schools. However, my S has been to three entirely different schools due to Katrina. Bates College, Tulane University and Johns Hopkins University. Other than locking his door behind him when he leaves the room (and he has had roommates at two of the three schools), he has never had anything taken - not his iPod, nor his laptop, nor his cash/wallet while in the shower, nor his various CDs/DVDs/electronic games, etc.</p>
<p>So you don’t necessarily need to worry.</p>
<p>D’s school offered locks for laptops. HOwever, apparently no one uses them and D says that theft is just not a problem on her campus. Nice to hear. I think it will vary on the school. I have heard that there is a abig theft problem in the UC dorms. Freshman should probably go to their school CC and ask current students what the theft issues are.</p>
<p>D hasn’t had anything stolen, but has lost her DVD collection twice! We have always stressed locking doors to the dorm room, but such advice has been blown off…until late one night, a drunken naked young man came into their dorm room, thinking it was his. Now the doors get locked!</p>
<p>Both of my girls had one dorm drawer that locked, either in the desk or in the dresser. It was perfect for passports, cash and minimal jewelry. Both had laptop locks, but the younger one’s dorm furniture was bolted to the wall and she was never able to use it. We heard of thefts at both schools, but it was because kids left their DOORS unlocked. A safe bet is to lock the door, even when you’re off to the restroom. And especially if you’re sleeping.</p>
<p>I called my insurance agent about coverage for S’s laptop. I was surprised to find out that as long as S did not formally claim somewhere other than my home as his residence, his personal property was covered under my homeowner’s policy while he is at school, which is out of state. NOTE: I plan to mention to my S that if he registers in his college town to vote in the state and local elections, he will need to take out renter’s insurance or be uninsured.</p>
<p>The bigger surprise was that there is no additional premium AND the deductible for MY computers DOES NOT APPLY to his computer.</p>
<p>I spoke with the person in the department of the my insurance company that sells “renter’s insurance” and she also confirmed the above. </p>
<p>I suggested to S that if he took his passport he ought to look into a safety deposit box at a bank near the campus. I can tell you, you do not want to have to report to the State Department that your passport is missing/stolen.</p>
<p>Many people have mentioned always locking the dorm room door, and that’s sage advice.</p>
<p>If your kid is “lucky” enough to get a room on the first floor with a ground floor accessible window, there is far more reason for concern. Lock the window, don’t leave it open. A few forward thinking (or crime prone) schools have installed burlary bars on first floor windows. Numerous thefts occur in this manner. And by all means, use the blinds, curtain, shade to keep your possessions out of vision range.</p>
<p>Most theft is a crime of opportunity. Much like water, a burglar is going to take the path of least resistance. And the college population is a mirror of society… within the population, you will find the standard bell curve ranging from degenerates to saints.</p>
<p>Act accordingly for your own safety.</p>
<p>violadad-- his observation about college having the full spectrum of good and bad people cannot be stressed enough.</p>
<p>Another concern is parties and “visitors.” At parties at fraternity houses, many times the girls leave their purses somewhere in the house. There was a student couple that worked as a team to get to those purses and steal the credit cards and check books to sell and/or use. So, think about how to safeguard your purse.</p>
<p>We had a guy who came arround and chummed up with a bunch of us guys to play cards for money, etc. Several months later, there was a rash of items of value missing from those of us who had let this guy in our rooms. It turned out that the police had a report on this guy as using this ploy to case rooms at several near by colleges. We never got any of the stuff back.</p>