Moving into the dorms can be very exciting and also a little daunting for new students. There are so many things that you might have questions about before you move in.
From picking the right storage solutions to figuring out if you or your roommate is bringing a microwave, there are lots of considerations that you have to make before you move into the dorms.
Securing your valuables doesn’t have to be a struggle when you move into the dorms. You might want to try and keep your dorm room locked or use another solution like a safe to handle other items that you do not want to worry about when you are not in your room.
If you are not sure what the best ways to keep your valuables safe might be, there are some good options that might help you to keep your electronics and valuables secured when you are away from your room.
If you are ready to learn more, read on!
How to Secure Valuables in a Dorm Room
1. Lock Your Doors
This can be tough to do when you have a roommate, but if you and your dorm mate are good about locking your dorm room door every time you leave, you can eliminate a lot of opportunities for theft of your personal items when you are not in your rooms.
This is the best way to be sure that your stuff is not exposed to risk when you are not around to make sure that everything is okay.
While it might be hard to make your roommate responsible for this, most other dorm residents have this worry as well and you will likely be on the same page.
2. Get a Mini-Safe
If you feel like you can’t be sure that your smaller devices will be safe and secure when you are not in your room, you can get a mini-safe to lock your smaller electronics and personal valuables in when you are away.
These will often fit under your bed and you can lock them before you leave each time you go to class or head out for the weekend to travel a bit.
This is a solution that can cost you a little bit of money but it can be well worth it if you are concerned about theft impacting your items that are stored in your dorm room.
3. Register Your Items With the Campus
One of the easiest ways to make sure that you can get help if something goes missing is to register your valuables with the campus. This will make it a lot easier to track them down if they get stolen.
They will have an ID tag on them and be less inviting to take and then campus police can help you to look for them if they have suddenly vanished.
Some campuses will not register bikes due to high theft incidence, but you can often get a better quality lock for your bike if you are storing it on campus near the dorms.
4. Combination Locks
Some items, such as bikes, should always be locked with combination locks. This will prevent casual theft and if you get a really quality bike lock chain and padlock, your bike will be less likely to be stolen.
Always consider using a combination lock for any cupboard or closets that you can lock in your room as well. Just making it harder to access your personal items can often deter thieves from taking the time to steal your possessions and take off with them.
5. Don’t Leave Things in Plain Sight
One of the best ways to prevent theft of your personal possessions is to make sure that you never leave valuable items in plain sight.
You might not be sure who your roommate is inviting over when you are gone for the day, but if your valuables are not sitting out temptingly for all to see, they will be much less likely to be stolen from you.
You should always have a place to tuck away items that you do not want others to have access to or see when they enter your room. This is just a good rule of thumb for anything that you think might be inviting to those who are inclined to take unique or expensive items.
6. Leave Some Items at Home
At the end of the day, it might not be worth bringing some expensive items with you into the dorms. Some things are just too theft-prone to be truly secure in any dorm room.
This is true of TVs, gaming systems, and expensive jewelry. It is a good rule of thumb to leave these kinds of items at home and just enjoy them when you are at your home on winter break or during the summer.
Many campus housing advisors will tell you that these kinds of items are often impossible to keep totally safe when you are living in a dorm room.
Keeping Your Valuables Safe Can be Easy
If you use these tips and tricks, your valuables will be safe and secure when you are away from your dorm room attending class or if you head out for the weekend on an adventure.
For most students, adding a little security is quite simple overall and the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your personal belongings will not be exposed to unnecessary risks is well worth it.
You can easily prevent some of the risks of theft by keeping your laptop or your other electronics with you when you are not in your room and always remember not to leave valuables in plain sight in your car.
There are many ways to keep your personal possessions safe when you are attending college and most of them involve just storing your stuff in places that are safe and secure.
Enjoying your time at the dorms means having a plan for security and these tips and tricks will help you to have a good dorm life experience from day one.
I am Brianna, a self-published author with a passion for sharing my knowledge and expertise on various topics with people looking to find the perfect items for their needs. I love ensuring that the right informative content is available to people looking for the right information. I am an avid horseback rider and reader when I am not writing.
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