Between Sept. 23 and Tuesday, multiple thefts from on-campus sites, mostly restricted to on-campus residences, have been reported.

Some of the residence areas that have been reported to have thefts include University Apartments, Andrews Hall and Douglas Hall.

Each of these incidents are under investigation.

Other on-campus locations that have reported thefts include the Doudna Fine Arts Center and the South Quad.

Crime Prevention Officer Dave Closson of the University Police Department said one of the biggest ways to stop theft is by simply locking the door.

“Locking your doors is definitely number one, even if you are just going down the hall for a moment,” he said.

He also added it is a good idea to not loan out keys to the residence halls and make sure students only let people into the building or their room if they know them.

Theft can also be prevented by not letting a large group of people into rooms, or students should make sure they know who is coming over.

Lt. Brad Oyer of the Charleston Police Department said there are ways to stop theft from happening that extend past simply making sure the door is locked.

“Take a few minutes before you leave, make sure you check your windows and door to see if they’re locked,” he said.

Oyer said smaller items people might not think about are also at risk for theft, and he suggests making sure each of those items are accounted for before and after students leave.

“Things like a jar of change, games, game platforms – make sure they’re hidden,” he said.

Closson added anything from cash laying around to identification to bigger assets like video games can be targeted for theft.

When classes are out for an extended period of time, such as a break, burglaries are more common, Oyer said.

“They know where large groups of students are, and when (students) leave, they like to go shopping,” he said.

Although there is extra patrol around those areas during breaks and extended weekends, Oyer said to still double-check the rooms before leaving.

Closson said one way to make sure students know exactly what they have at all times is to keep an inventory sheet.

“In the back of the housing manual, there is a property inventory form,” he said. “They can also be picked up at UPD.”

Closson said things to list on the inventory sheet should include the make, the model, the serial number, the color, the size and what its value is.

He also recommended making sure any phone that had capability was screen locked.

These suggestions can also go for students who live off-campus as well.

Theft is not just restricted to only residences, however.

Oyer said always checking to make sure vehicles are locked can go along way as well.

“Anything valuable you might have, you don’t want to keep out in the open,” he said. “Make sure it’s hidden away.”

Oyer also mentioned hunting season was coming up and hunters should be especially cautious with whatever they may have in their vehicle.

“Make sure anything firearm is unloaded and kept in the trunk, in accordance to the law,” he said.

Chelsee Bushue, a freshman math major, said even though she has not had a problem with theft, she still checks to make sure her door is locked before she goes anywhere.

“I still check to make sure things like my computer are still there, though,” she said.

Bob Galuski can be reached at 581-2812 or rggaluski@eiu.edu.