The recent laptop theft (see print edition) affirms a growing truth that we are understandably reticent to confront: This Faculty of Law has become a feeding ground for larceny. The taking of a 3L’s laptop was not anomalous. There have been reports of both a wallet and a purse going missing in the law library, one of which was taken from a private office. A student witnessed an unknown stranger trying to break into a locker a few weeks ago. Mere weeks ago my locker buddy and I discovered not only that our lock had disappeared, but the entire mechanism was coarsely torn off the surface, likely because of a backpack strap visible from outside the locker. Only my textbooks were left in the locker (which, I suppose, must have repulsed the prospective thief), but had I left a wallet or a laptop, I would likely not have been so lucky.
It is plainly pathetic to think that strangers roam about our premises seeking and stealing unattended property. Taking a laptop obviously deprives already debt-ridden students of some of their most valuable assets, but the financial cost isn’t the worst of it. Taking a computer invades someone’s privacy and compromises her academic future irreparably. Feeling safe and comfortable around the Faculty should not demand extensive vigilance with respect to personal items.
Given that these buildings are populated by close friends and colleagues for the majority of the day, it is understandable that we fall into a certain false sense of security. I’m sure many of us have briefly left property unattended for vast stretches of time while getting a coffee, answering a phone call or running to our lockers. But recent incidents alert us to the reality that the threat of theft is real – that someone not in law school who picks up a laptop or a bag is likely to pass unnoticed. Increased threats demand increased attentiveness. Indeed, though it is sad to admit it, we cannot even be sure that the thieves in these instances were now law students themselves. Here are some steps we can all take to cut supply off at the source for opportunistic larcenists.
1. Take exceptional measures to guard your valuables.
The laptop in question was taken from a closed bag in less than five minutes, with other people less than ten feet away. No absence is sufficiently short to let your guard down entirely.
It goes without saying that if a friend or acquaintance is nearby, you ought to ask him or her to watch your valuables when you leave your property unattended. I notice that when some people are not studying with friends, they often would rather take their chances leaving property alone for a few moments instead of asking an acquaintance. I would still recommend approaching someone and asking them to keep an eye on your things. It helps to have someone keeping an eye out for random people who look nothing like you manhandling your property – and at least you have someone to whom you can trace responsibility in case something goes missing.
Lockers are left unattended for vast periods of the day in some of the most isolated and desolate spaces of Flavelle House. During late hours, even if someone was breaking into a locker with a jackhammer, it is unlikely that anyone would be around to notice or intervene. Try to avoid storing valuables in your locker overnight when thieves might have the opportunity to break in unsupervised.
2. Protect your data.
Imagine losing all your class notes, summaries, maps, half-written papers and downloaded Game of Thrones episodes in the space of five minutes. Further consider the impact of having your resume, transcripts, private correspondence, financial documentation and internet browsing history in the hands of a complete stranger who has demonstrated a lack of ethical boundaries.
Protecting your data goes beyond simply password-protecting your computer (though this is clearly an important first step). Backing up your data regularly is crucial. One of the most common and effective ways of doing this is storing your information in the cloud. If you aren’t familiar with cloud computing as it relates to private data, the concept is simple; all of your data is stored not only on your personal hard drive, but on external servers. Whenever you make a change to a file, those changes are automatically synchronized with your file in the cloud. Multiple computers can access the synchronized files at once, and changes are automatically pushed to all computers connected to the cloud service.
There are a multitude of free services that provide space for countless summaries, maps and boring journal articles (Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud and Microsoft Skydrive, to name some of the most popular options). With Dropbox offering 15 GB free to U of T students using their school e-mail addresses, there is really little excuse for not backing your files up online. In the case of a lost, stolen or broken computer, you can simply download the software to your new computer and watch your old files reappear in their most recent form.
3. Report thefts and suspicious behaviour.
Though nothing can completely eliminate the risk of prowling opportunists, oftentimes the best thing we can do is watch out for one another. Suspicious behaviour ought to be reported to the administration and campus security (416-978-2323), especially if it is around the lockers or the valuables of others.
If you suspect your property has been stolen, report it. Reports of missing valuables not only allow custodial staff to keep an eye out for your valuables, but also allow the administration to identify problem areas and take remedial steps. If information is located leading to the culprit, the police can be contacted. Students who are caught can face severe personal and academic consequences as well as criminal ones. “Students who take or damage another student’s property may be subject to criminal charges, civil action, and student code of conduct sanctions,” wrote Assistant Dean Alexis Archbold.
The recent theft directly harmed Ginger Ellison, but the presence of these breaches of security poses a threat to everyone’s property. All of us have a role to play in creating a culture of vigilance.
