By Tim Ubels (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: March 27, 2013
Zack Soderstrom, clubs and associations representative at the Student Union Society, fell victim to theft’s quick hands when he left his bag unattended in U-House earlier this month.
“It was around three o’clock when one of the staff members for Student Life came out with my bag and said, ‘Oh, I found it in the bathroom.’ But I hadn’t gone to the bathroom,” Soderstrom said.
After discovering that both his Blackberry Playbook tablet and one terabyte external hard drive had been removed from his bag, Soderstrom informed campus security and reported the theft of his electronic devices to Abbotsford police, but has so far been unable to recover either stolen item.
“It was just a bunch of people I knew. I left it with everyone else’s stuff,” Soderstrom explains. “It felt like it was safe and secure and I didn’t have any reason to worry.”
Many students have taken the same risks in leaving possessions unattended, but most of us haven’t had the misfortune of having our valuables swiped from under our noses.
Whether we’re in the stacks, the cafeteria or just hanging with friends on the green, most students have at one point or another left their bag, laptop or cellphone unattended on campus.
But frankly, students are becoming easy targets for thieves.
Whether stressed about an upcoming quiz or weary from pulling an all-nighter, students often forget that they study at a public institution; anyone is free to come and go on campus without attention. The unassuming crammer who stumbles off to go get coffee may be in for a surprise upon their return to their workstation, discovering that something’s missing.
Because of this easy access for potential thieves, theft on university campuses have always be an issue for students, whose common sense takes a backseat during marathon study sessions.
Often afraid that they’ll lose their spot if they tidy up their gear and leave for five minutes, students may need to begin taking this small risk of losing a preferred study spot in order to save them a lot of hassle and a lot of money.
The theft at U-House comes only a week after Darren Nixon, a friend of Zack Soderstrom, also fell victim to theft; his laptop was stolen from B building during a monthly games day put on by the Computer Information Systems Student Association (CISSA).
Justin Cole, coordinator of security and emergency management at UFV, warns that a thief, “only needs a couple seconds of inattention to take what they want.” He encourages everyone on campus to “keep personal property with you at all times” and “maintain a list of personal property” to help “identify and recover your stolen property.”
Students are prompted to report thefts to campus security immediately after the property goes missing.
These recent events should put students on their guard at all times, especially with finals right around the corner and the campus busier than ever. With the recent rash of theft on Abbotsford campus, students would do well to keep a close eye on their valuables.
