A string of more than five thefts in Nelson Hall over the past three weeks has frustrated residents and administrators and has threatened to destroy the feeling of safety staff members have attempted to build within the residence hall. While thefts happen in residence halls every year, it's odd to have so many occur in such rapid succession and in the same hall, said Brent Pennington, director of Residence Life. For us I don't really feel like it's that way.
Some unusual circumstances surround the thefts.
Also, the timing of the thefts is strange. Generally, few thefts occur in the fall semester. Instead, thefts occur in the spring when students become more comfortable in their residence halls and begin leaving their doors unlocked, Pennington said. Unlocked doors give rise to theft because it's not difficult to walk into an unlocked room and pick up loose items like cash or a cellular phone, items stolen in most of the incidents. All of the thefts in Nelson, Pennington said, might have been prevented because they occurred in rooms that students had left unlocked.