Theft reports at Neuqua Valley show a slight drop this year compared to last year. “I definitely see a decrease, especially in the locker rooms,” said School Resource Officer Paul Elliot. Reasons for the drop are unclear, but new policies and efforts are likely having an affect.
Starting this year, no electronic devices are allowed in school. This rule excludes cell phones and calculators. The implementation of the rule came late enough that it was not printed in student handbook. Last year, iPods were allowed to be used in the cafeteria, which was a compromise for students compared to several years ago when no specific rule banning their use existed. IPods, being small and expensive were perfect targets for potential thieves. Combining that with careless locker room safety made iPod thefts a common problem.
Officer Elliot, however, is not so sure that the decline can be entirely attributed to new policies. Rather, he attributes much of the decline in thefts to the decline in consumer demand for iPods. Thieves, like teen consumers, are looking for the “new hot ticket.” According to Elliot, iPhones were the hot ticket item when they first became popular. Since then, reports have stabilized.
Typically, Elliot receives five to seven theft reports per week. Along with that he receives two to three reports that are classified as thefts of lost property. Inherently, taking unattended property is still theft.
Combating the problem can be difficult when thefts are often the result of negligence. In the boy’s locker room, Elliot makes random checks for property left unlocked. If he finds something out in the open, Elliot puts a sticker on it with a friendly reminder to lock up. The Physical Education department has also changed locker room rules and procedures. Students are cleared out so that thefts cannot occur.
Another tactic used by Elliot is open communication. “I don’t try to hide the fact that there’s a theft problem, I try to raise awareness,” said Elliot. Part of his plan to raise awareness involves posting notices for missing property on a bulletin board between the C and D wings. Some of the postings even come with a reward.
Returning missing goods is still not easy. Missing cash is practically impossible to recover without a confession of the theft. Other items simply have no trace of who the owner was. A drawer in Elliot’s office is filled with cell phones and electronics never claimed by an owner.
Students can do even more to prevent crime at Neuqua Valley and in the community. Crime Stoppers accepts tips from anyone with information on a crime. If that information leads to an arrest, a cash reward could be given.
By Jonathan Oskvarek, News & Web Editor
Photo By Lucas Giolas. Photo Editor
