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Western Carolinian Volume 68 Number 02

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  • STUDENT LIFE Guarding Your Gadgets A little caution goes a long way. by emity weaver I WCnewsmagazine 2.0 With 300 more freshmen than expected at Western this year all bringing valuable gadgets from home, the risk of robberies in the dorms increases. Most colleges like WCU require all new students to purchase a computer with Internet capability. It is helpful to own a personal computer so that you do not have to wait in line at a computer lab to complete homework, Computers become even handier when they can be easily carried and hooked up in any location like a laptop. Computers/ cell phones, DVD players, scanners and printers, though popular and convenient for students to have on campus; can add up to a possible jackpot to a thief. Even though the cost of owning a laptop has fallen steadily over the years, the price is still in the $1000 to over $2000 range, an important investment to each owner. Then of course if a student wishes to have extra features on the laptop like a CD burner or DVD player, the value and the cost rise significantly, As handy and enjoyable as laptops, DVD players and X-Boxes may be; these types of hardware are very susceptible to theft, damage and loss. Students can easily forget to lock their dorm rooms when they go to bed at night or when they leave for classes; giving a crook an open invitation to steal all of these precious investments. With laptops, people can easily leave them lying on a table or desk and come back to find that the nearly $2000 machine has been nabbed. Laptops can also be damaged by a fall or being out in the rain, and of course, there are always enough viruses and worms to go around, causing hard-drive crashes or malfunctions. There was a decline in thefts on campus last year from 2001. However, Director of the University Police Gene McAbee said, "If students decide to use laptops more and to carry them around, we will probably see an increase in thefts." He advises students carrying laptops to "keep it attached to them or in their reach at all times." Students residing on campus may also purchase a security cable to attach computers to desks in dorm rooms for extra protection. "The most important thing a student can do to keep their electronic equipment safe is to lock their door," said McAbee€ Most cases of theft in the dorms have occurred when residents leave their doors unlocked. In addition, some companies offer warranties and/or insurance policies for certain high-priced technological equipment, which can be a major asset when a problem arises. More crime prevention tips can be accessed on the WCU Police Department's website at http:// police.wcu.edu/tips.htm. Some of the theft prevention tips listed on the site include: o o o. Mark your property, specifically items such as books and other small; high value property. Use your driver's license number or your student ID number to mark everything. Record serial numbers of your stereo equipment, televisions and appliances. Don't bring valuable jewelry, antiques or heirlooms to campus. Valuables in your vehicle should be placed out of sight; under the seat or in the trunk. If you own a bicycle; register it through the WCU Police Department. If you have an automatic teller card, memorize the personal identification code. Don't keep it with the card. Keep accurate records of your checks, Be alert for checks missing from the middle of your book. Keep a close eye on your credit cards and protect the numbers. If one is lost or stolen, report it immediately to the company and to the police. Being cautious and using your smarts may keep your property out of a robber's bag of goodies.
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).