Police contend with is larceny.
In the majority of cases, larceny is a crime of opportunity. Frequently, the property stolen was left unlocked in an unattended room. Campus buildings are never really closed because of the ongoing research which involves many members of the community around the clock. In addition, there are many evening classes, cultural programs and extracurricular activities which are often open to the public. This aspect, combined with the fact that MIT is an urban campus, indicates why hallways sometimes seem more like street extensions than university corridors.