With the recent spate of property thefts in the University Union and the Library, the Sacramento State Police Department is cracking down on thefts occurring on campus by installing new video cameras and alerting students to be more cautious with their valuables.

The efforts of the department are in hopes of lowering campus theft, the most commonly reported crime on campus.

Scott Christian, public information officer for the Sac State police, said a majority of thefts on campus occur in the Union and the library, and most of the items stolen were laptops.

“Laptop are hot-ticket items when it comes to larceny on campus,” Christian said. “Students who leave their laptops or other items unattended or with friends are taking the risk of losing (them).”

On Feb. 20, a student had her laptop stolen from the second floor of the Union. Less than an hour after the theft was reported, Sac State Police Chief Daniel Davis posted an alert on the police department’s website with pictures of the two suspects, both males appearing to act as students, holding the stolen laptop.

“The new cameras will help us cover more areas on campus and gather footage of these individuals,” Christian said.

A majority of these thefts occur when students leave their valuables to either use the restroom or get coffee and food, Christian said.

“The question you want to ask students is whether or not they would leave hundreds of dollars at a table while you use the restroom, or in your unattended car,” Christian said. “That is basically what they are doing when they leave their laptops unattended on campus.”

Betty Ronayne, a campus librarian, has noticed the carelessness some students demonstrate in the library.

“I see many students leave their belongings while they search for books or use the restroom,” Ronayne said. “If a student is around, I always tell them to leave their things with me until they find what they are looking for.”

Jason Burlingame, junior engineering major and member of a video club, is very cautious about leaving his belongings, including his camcorder, unattended.

“I make sure that I have my protective strap over my camcorder to prevent any chance of forgetting it or having it stolen,” Burlingame said.Christian suggested that students keep a record of their laptop serial numbers before using them in public, in order to provide additional protection against theft.

Without the serial number, the police are unable to gather proof as to the true owner of the laptop. Also, Christian mentioned that engraving laptops would be a smart choice for students.

“These people who are stealing the laptops are able to completely restore the laptops, and with a couple of keystrokes they have a brand new laptop,” Christian said.

In order to prevent future thefts, the police department has created new programs to educate and protect students’ valuables. The department’s community service officers have increased the time they spend on bike patrols, where officers search for valuable items, such as bikes, offices, and vehicles, and leave tags that warn the owner that their item is an easy target to thieves.

“These new programs are part of our plan to educate the public about these situations that happen all the time,” Christian said.

Christian encourages students to call the University Police Department’s 24-hour hotline if they notice any suspicious activity.

If students witness crimes or suspicious activity, Christian encourages students to call the 24-hour University Police hotline at (916) 278-6851, and visit www.csus.edu/police for alerts about crimes and ways to avoid them.

Ricky Alejandro can be reached at [email protected].