Laptop and valuables theft has long been a persistent issue on campus, council member Floris‑Luc Witjes (UReka) noted during the meeting with the Executive Board. ‘It eliminates the feeling of safety. We urge you to take action.’
Campaign, lockers and laptop locks
The council proposed several suggestions of its own: an awareness campaign, making laptop locks more readily available, and installing more lockers in places where students gather socially, such as the Educafé in the Zilverling or the basement of the Horst.
Vice-president Machteld Roos acknowledged the issue. ‘These thefts tend to come in waves. We do need to make people more aware of the risks. We are working on that, through a campaign and with several recommendations and policies.’ She welcomed the Council’s advice and noted that an awareness campaign is already underway. ‘We cannot guarantee one hundred percent that we can prevent theft, but we can help each other by paying close attention.’
Peaks
Security team leader Sylvia van Tellingen confirms this pattern, upon asked. ‘If you look specifically at laptop thefts, you sometimes see peaks, such as at the beginning of this academic year. Figures show that these thefts often happen in quick succession, followed by weeks or even months without a single incident. This reinforces the suspicion that an ‘external’ individual is involved. Often, the laptops taken are those that are easy to grab’, Van Tellingen said.
This behaviour makes it difficult to catch an offender. ‘Even when the actual theft isn’t captured on camera, we often see certain behaviour from individuals afterwards. Identifying the perpetrator is something we take seriously, together with the police.’
New camera plan
Ultimately, prevention is better than cure, Van Tellingen stressed. ‘Security staff carry out several preventive patrols every day. But a lot also comes down to behaviour and awareness. Our buildings are public spaces that anyone can enter. So, don’t leave your belongings unattended.’
Regarding the council’s suggestions for more lockers and greater awareness among students and staff, Van Tellingen said the work is ongoing. ‘There is an awareness campaign underway with flyers and a slide on coffee machines and other screens. We have also held safety sessions with internal services and servicedesk staff, giving them practical tips; they know the buildings and users well. I also know that CFM is exploring the addition of more lockers. In addition, we are working on recommendations to tighten the camera regulations and on an updated camera plan. These should be finalised before summer.’
