Laptops are typically expensive, important and a perfect item for thieves to steal from students at Sacramento State. In the past year, 20 laptops have been reported stolen from students on campus.

Laptops are a common purchase for new, incoming freshman each year, who are perhaps unaware of how common thefts are on campus.

Scott Christian, Sac State Police spokesman, said he believes new laptop owners may feel too comfortable leaving their laptop unattended while throwing some trash away, or perhaps going to the bathroom for a moment. Situations like these lead to laptops being stolen from campus, Christian said.

“The main reason most property is stolen on campus is students leave their property unattended while studying … It only takes a minute to become a theft victim,” Christian said.

The most common areas where laptops were taken from in the past year are the University Union, Yosemite Hall and the University Library – three highly populated areas on campus, according to the Campus Police Media Log.

Sophomore public relations major Troy Petrunoff was shocked more laptops were not taken from more academically focused areas.

“I’m not too surprised by the other areas, but I would have thought the AIRC (Academic, Information and Resource Center) would have more thefts,” he said.

Sophomore chemistry and philosophy major Liam Pham is afraid of leaving his laptop unattended outside the on-campus Togo’s in the River Front Center.

“Most of the time that area is pretty populated, but sometimes when I want to leave my seat to throw away trash I feel a little insecure leaving my stuff out in the open,” Pham said.

Many of the thefts within the last year have been in the month of April, when six laptops were taken from students, according to the Campus Police Media Log. Petrunoff said April is one of the months when laptops are used the most for studying.

Petrunoff said he believes most students are careful of where they place their laptop or where they choose to study with it, to prevent its theft.

To help prevent laptops from being stolen, laptop locks are available at any electronics store. However, Petrunoff said some may see them as annoying because they limit the mobility of the laptop.

Petrunoff said he thinks it may have something to do with people not using the locks more often.

“Laptop locks are inconvenient and kind of expensive,” Petrunoff said.

Some advice to reduce the amount of laptop thefts on campus can be actually using a laptop lock when out in public; it may just deter thieves, Petrunoff said.

Christian suggests installing software called “Lojack” for laptops.

“It’s a program that you can track your laptop if it is stolen,” Christian said, “and the bookstore sells it for less than $50.”

Christian advised that students record the serial number of their laptop and other property, and to keep the record in a safe but accessible place.

“Consider engraving personal property with your driver’s license or identification card number; it will help police recover your property if it is stolen,” Christian said.

Junior business administration major Jeryl Concepcion said he always keeps a close eye on his personal items.

“I think that the amount of safety that I feel rides solely on my ability to watch my laptop,” Concepcion said. “Should there be a case when I do not watch my laptop, I believe that it is much more likely to be taken.”

Pham said he also believes that keeping track of where his items are at all times help his chances of staying safe from being robbed.

“I do feel safe bringing my laptop to school because my laptop is with me all the time,” Pham said. “The only time my laptop is out from my backpack is when I’m using it.”

Pham said he puts everything in his backpack so all he has to keep an eye on is the backpack itself, never losing sight of it.

“My laptop, books, cell phone and keys are usually inside my backpack. It makes it easier for me to look for things when I have them all in one place,” Pham said.

Christian recommends that students not leave their laptops in plain sight in their vehicle, and to never leave property unattended for any reason. He said that when students leave property unattended, they are inviting that item’s theft.

“Putting it another way, the average laptop costs $500,” Christian said. “Would you leave $500 cash lying on a table in the Union, Library, or AIRC while you went to get a cup of coffee? Probably not. So why leave a laptop unattended?”

Russell Preston can be reached at [email protected]