A man is seen typing on his laptop. (Photo credit Lili Warren/AFP/Getty Images)
CHICAGO (CBS) – Chicago area college students are being advised to keep an eye on their laptop computers, in the wake of a rash of thefts.
On Tuesday, DePaul University issued an alert to students and staff regarding recent laptop thefts from public places on campus.
The most recent thefts occurred in the Richardson Library and Student Center, at 2350 N. Kenmore Ave. on the Lincoln Park campus, the alert said.
DePaul urged students never to leave items unattended, and to report suspicious activity to the university police. The school also offers locks free of charge at the Richardson Library to secure laptops while in use.
DePaul isn’t the only area university to experience thefts of laptop. According to reports from the University of Chicago police, at least a dozen laptops, mostly Apple MacBooks and MacBoook Pros, have been taken from libraries, dining halls and other buildings on the Hyde Park campus this month.
According to the U of C police, laptops were taken from buildings such as the Regenstein Library – the largest student library at 1100 E. 57th St.; the Reynolds Club student center at 1131 E. 57th St; and the John Crerar Library for the science divisions, at 5730 S. Ellis Ave.
All of the laptops were unattended, and a couple were taken as their owners dozed nearby.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
