We need you please, to ‘watch out’ with us – for your own property and for any suspicious activity. There is a thief (or thieves) about in the University who also visit(s) the Library. A library does after all present the largest concentration of people on campus with laptops and phones in front of them but preoccupied with their studies … and where some ‘just step away for a minute’ to fetch a book or a coffee. There have been 35 reported thefts here since October, predominately of laptops. Don’t become the next crime statistic yourself.
What we are doing about it
There are laptop lock holes in all Library study desks. It costs under £10 to make your laptop harder to steal. Buy a lock from RUSU’s ‘Campus central’ shop next door or other suppliers.- Library staff encourage students to take care of their valuables as part of regular patrols enforcing good conduct. We are not legally permitted to look after your laptops. Take note of our warning ‘Thieves work here too’ card on each study desk. If we leave one on your unattended laptop, be thankful it was just us noting the opportunity for theft.
- University Security have stepped up patrol of the University Library. They are also conducting spot checks on Library users. Have your Campus/Student Access/Library card to hand or sign our Visitors’ Book.
- Thames Valley Police also operate in the Library, including in plain clothes.
What you can do about it
- Please take care of your property. Keep it with you or leave it in the care of someone you know you can trust. You may be insured but you don’t need the hassle of losing precious coursework which you didn’t back-up, contacts on your mobile, or replacing bank and University cards.
- Please report anything suspicious. Save these numbers in your phones: 101 (a new national Police number) or University Security on 0118 378 6300 to report anything suspicious. Dial the Police emergency number 999 if you see a theft in progress.
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