By foot, by bike, by car, and even by Segway, Grand Valley State University Police are very much a presence on both the Allendale and Pew campuses. And though sometimes it seems like they’re only here to hand out MIPs, they do worry about students, and they are here to help keep you and your swag safe.

As thousands of GVSU students return to campus, they bring with them expensive books, computers, cell phones, and backpacks. Whether we like to admit it or not, that makes us all the perfect targets for larceny.

In an article on A2 of this issue of the Lanthorn, Russell Wolff, director of security at the Pew Campus, told Associate Editor Austin Metz that there are two ways for students to prevent larceny. First, take your valuables with you or lock them in your trunk. Secondly, if you do have to leave your belongings unattended for a few moments, just ask someone next to you to watch your things. Be a good neighbor, be an honest neighbor, and make it easy on everyone – pretty simple, right?

Simply put, students do have the power to protect themselves against theft on campus – and not to sensationalize the issue, but there will always be theft. Though, we should mention, the numbers aren’t too crazy – in 2010 the Allendale Campus saw 129 cases of larceny, and Pew Campus only 25 according to GVPD’s online crime statistics. In 2011 (the most recent statistics available), there were 140 larcenies in Allendale, and 20 at the Pew Campus.

So don’t freak out, GVSU – there aren’t burglars waiting around every corner, and there aren’t thieves lurking behind every parked car. But the reality is that theft does happen, and you should be aware of it, and you should be proactive, because homies don’t let other homies’ things get stolen.