Consumers will spend $11.95 billion on computers and electronics for students headed to college this fall and $7.15 billion for those in grades kindergarten-12, according to the National Retail Federation. That’s a big investment in laptops, tablets, cellphones and other gear.
And all that new equipment is a tempting target for thieves on the lookout in cafeterias, dorm rooms and other places students congregate. It’s not just the physical gear that’s at stake either: Many devices will contain information about a person’s identity that can be stolen. Equipment should be treated like cash, says Dale Mingilton, president and chief executive of the BBB Serving Denver/Boulder. The bureau offers these suggestions for keeping personal property and sensitive information safe at school:
Use password protections. If your electronic device is stolen, having password protections could limit access to your personal information. Don’t share passwords with friends or carry them around on paper.
Keep it off the floor. No matter where you are in public — a large study hall in school, a conference, a coffee shop, or a registration desk — avoid putting your electronics on the floor. If you must put it down, place it between your feet or at least up against your leg, so that you’re aware of it.
Don’t leave it in the car. Parked cars are an easy target.
Don’t leave it “for just a minute.” Even though classmates, employees at a coffee shop or folks at the library seem trustworthy, don’t leave your gear unguarded.
Use bells and whistles. Depending on your security needs, an alarm can be a useful tool. Some laptop alarms sound when there’s unexpected motion, or when the computer moves outside a specified range around you. Or consider a kind of “lo-jack” for your laptop: a program that reports the location of your stolen laptop once it’s connected to the Internet.
Leave it at home. School districts may have policies about students bringing electronic devices to campus. Find out what is allowed on campus and in the classroom.
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