Student backpacks offer ripe picking for thieves - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Thieves are making off with thousands of dollars worth of computers, phones and books. They are targeting students' backpacks. Campus police are finding that too often, too many college students leave them lying around with only thieves watching.

At IUPUI students are back, and so are thieves. Four backpacks, a purse, a wallet and a cell phone all vanished during just the first day of classes.

All of them, just like A backpack we spotted in the food court, were left unwatched.

"Some are left for 20 minutes, some of them for 20 seconds," said Officer David Biggs, IUPUI Police Department.

Experience tells Briggs the thieves are probably outsiders who see students as easy prey, explaining, "They may be targeted by somebody who is just sitting around, just blending in waiting to go to the restroom."

Or in the student center, the lunch line was not far from a lonely back pack we were watching. A few tables away Nathanael Jones had his backpack safe between his legs. If it were stolen, he said, "it would probably be one of the worst things ever. All my possessions are here, like my laptop and my books for the day."

Some 30,000 students, the vast majority of them commuters, are perhaps at greater risk than students at universities with campus housing. IUPUI students come to campus carrying everything they need to get through the entire day. It adds up to a ton of money.

Text books, laptops, iPads, cell phones, smart phones all crammed into backpacks. How much is it worth? Caily Wolma, IUPUI sophomore, figured she's carrying around $2,500 worth of possessions.

Some students came up with even higher totals while we continued to watch that unattended backpack. At least five minutes later, its owner finally arrived carrying lunch.

"I normally find a seat and then go in line because it's so hard to find a seat," explained Terrice Hooks, IUPUI junior.

"And you leave your backpack?" Eyewitness News asked.

"Yeah," she replied.

"Do you know people are taking them? They are disappearing?"

"Yeah, I know. It's not very safe, is it?" Hooks said with a nervous smile.

Not safe, not wise, but at least for today, Terrice Hooks was lucky.

If you want to be smarter than lucky, here are a few recommendations:

Don't leave backpacks unattended, even for a few seconds. Thieves are targeting food courts, hallways, libraries and even classrooms.

If you must, leave valuables with a trusted friend to watch.

Consider security software and phone apps that track stolen computers and phones.

Also consider a computer/laptop cable lock to keep valuables tied to a desk or chairs.

Check your homeowner's or renter's insurance to see if you're covered for thefts that occur on campus. If you're not covered, you may want to consider purchasing insurance.