According to a 2011 study conducted by Absolute Data Corporation's Theft Recovery Team, college campuses are the third most likely place for laptop theft.
Yet despite a recent spike in laptop thefts, some DePauw students have voiced relaxed opinions on the state of laptop related campus crime.
"I've never felt like I had to be careful with my stuff and I was never scared of leaving stuff unattended - even for a long period of time," freshman Lisa Kanai said. "I leave all my stuff behind [at the library] when I go get dinner and come back in like an hour."
However, a recent increase in laptop thefts has raised the issue of whether students should be taking extra precautions to lock up their property. According to the DePauw Public Safety Activity Report, three laptops have been reported stolen since March 25.
According to Angela Nally, director of Public Safety, several laptops have recently been stolen on campus. Several were taken out of fraternities in common areas, closets and bedrooms. Residence halls and academic buildings have also been targeted in the past.
"Last winter a group of juveniles were literally shopping for laptops in Harrison, Asbury and Roy," Nally said.
However, Nally said it is difficult to pinpoint who may be stealing property in these areas around campus because it is hard to determine who has access to them.
"In the last two weeks property was left unattended [because of Spring Break]," Nally said. "We were without 2,000 sets of extra eyes to report suspicious activity, and [that] can result in theft."
Junior Connor Miller was a recent victim of laptop theft.
Miller said the incident happened about a month ago.
"I left my laptop in my room on Friday night and my door was open," Miller said. "I slept somewhere else, and when I came back in the morning [my laptop] was gone."
Despite having his laptop stolen, Miller said he does not think that theft is a problem at DePauw.
"Honestly, I've never heard of a laptop getting stolen," Miller said.
But according to Nally, the recent rise in laptop theft is an anomaly compared to the rate of laptop theft during the rest of the year.
"In the past two weeks we've had many [laptop thefts], but not over the academic year," Nally said.
Nally says that thefts are by both DePauw students and Greencastle residents.
"Students don't like to think of fellow students taking laptops," Nally said. "But we've had instances of both."
Nally suggests that students put passwords on their computer home screen so that their laptops are more difficult to access.
Despite the recent increase in campus theft, students may not feel the need to change their relaxed habits towards their property.
"It surprises me but unless it happens to someone close to me or I have something stolen myself, I probably won't change my habits," Kanai said.
Still, with the recent spike in laptop thefts, Nally warns students to be careful with valuable personal items.
"We want everyone to feel safe on campus but of course you have to take precautions to take care of your things," Nally said. "On the other hand, just because things are laying there doesn't mean they're free for the taking."
-Alex Paul and Nicky Chokran contributed to this article