There is an increased risk of theft at the beginning of each semester, Gene Burton, director of public safety.
"Trends have shown that students provide more opportunities for thefts to occur during these specific times of the year," Burton said. "The move in process often means that valuable items are left out in the open, and students who are naive to the opportunities they are creating are most at risk."
So far this semester nine thefts have been reported, with a breakdown of four on campus and five off.
For students living on or around campus, this means that an increased awareness of their surroundings is necessary to protect themselves and their valuables from being stolen.
Burton said all students, especially members of the residence halls, should keep the door to their room locked at all times, even when leaving briefly to visit another room. The most common items stolen are portable, expensive electronics. Keep these valuables out of sight as much as possible, both in dorm rooms and in vehicles, Burton said.
Although no area of campus is safe from theft, Cathy Bickel, assistant dean of Housing and Residence Hall Life, is taking positive steps toward increasing residence hall safety.
"ID cards are our first line of defense against thieves," Bickel said. "So it is important for students to utilize this tool and avoid piggybacking other people into the halls."
Bickel said the first floor meeting of the year cautioned students to avoid being too trusting of strangers.
Sophomore health science major Christine Pokrajac along with roommate Christyn Connolly, a junior speech pathology major, were on campus for less than 24 hours when their bikes were stolen off of their front porch. Their attempt to retrieve their bikes was unsuccessful, as explained by the Muncie Police Department.
"The police needed a serial code from my bike in order to do anything about the theft," Connolly said. "And I had never copied the number down."
All bike owners on campus should take the time to write down the number, as an added precaution, she said.
Capt. Chuck Hensley from the Crime and Theft division of the Muncie Police Department encourages students to get to know their neighbors and enforce a neighborhood watch program.
"Having several sets of eyes on your place while you're gone to class is one of the best defenses," he said.
For additional advice on campus crime prevention, Corp. Mike Baker of the Ball State Police Department, who works closely with the residence halls, is available to speak in front of any campus related group on the subject.
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