On Wednesday, December 12, Freshman Alison White entered the girls’ locker room to find her iPod Touch stolen. Freshman Hirari Watanabe found that her iPod Touch had also been stolen, along with a new pair of headphones.
White and Watanabe are only two girls among many who have been unfortunately affected by theft in the girls’ locker room during fifth period this year. Aside from White and Watanabe, another freshman who wishes to remain unnamed had her iPod Touch stolen from her locker. Freshman Marina Sweetnam had her phone stolen this year, and after she replaced it, her new phone was taken as well, along with her locker lock.
Thefts have occurred in both the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms throughout this past school year during PE classes. Campus Police Officer Luis Espinosa said, “Last year there were more thefts in the boys’ locker room, but this year there are more in the girls’.”
According to Athletic Director Mary McLaughlin, students are becoming more and more irresponsible when it comes to locking their lockers and securing their belongings. Commander reporters found that during a period 4 class, more than 130 lockers were found unlocked, many of which contained valuable items such as iPods, cell phones, and purses. Similar circumstances were observed during period 5. These findings seem to support McLaughlin’s statement.
Both staff and students wonder why the locker building itself is not secure. Students are easily able to enter the locker bay (when it is supposed to be secured) through the equipment room door, which has upper and lower sections, allowing access through the lower section when not properly locked.
Some students have chosen to go without locks completely. At least 26 unclaimed locks belonging to students are being held in the girls’ locker room office, according to McLaughlin. When PE teachers McLaughlin or Bonnie Newmark spot locks lying around, they bring them to the PE office in hopes that students will notice their missing locks and claim them.
Freshman Allison White felt that the PE staff didn’t do everything in their power to try and retrieve the items she and other students lost. She had hopes of getting her iPod back: “We thought it could happen, but then the teachers didn’t do anything.”
Newmark explained that students should be held accountable for their irresponsibility. She feels the staff did a decent job explaining to students at the beginning of the year that they need to lock up their belongings. “We thought that [the explanation at the beginning of the year] was really going to make a difference, and it might have, but students are still not locking their lockers or do not have locks in the first place,” she said.
According to Espinoza, there have been at least ten to fifteen thefts in the locker room during fifth period this school year. He added that the majority of the thefts can be pinned on students not securing their belongings, though not in all circumstances. “I would estimate that about 70 percent of the time it’s because the kids leave their items unattended.”
However, not every case involving a student theft was due to an irresponsible student. Espinoza stated, “The other 30 percent would be actual break-ins, burglaries, where kids do have their lockers broken into, where there is forced entry.”
According to Espinoza, more thefts occur towards the end of the day and after lunch. “It starts at lunchtime and it goes on to fifth and sixth period. I think there is just more activity going on at the time,” he explained.
Espinoza wanted to share a piece of advice to any potential lawbreakers in the halls of UC High: “Think about your brother and sister, maybe a younger brother or sister that you might have at home, how they would feel if it happened to them. Think about how they would feel as a victim and someone took something that belonged to them. Even if it’s tempting and it’s right in front of you, I would want you to think twice about taking something that does not belong to you. Ultimately, everything comes around.”
Principal Jeff Olivero said, “It’s a real dilemma for high schools. It says in the student handbook not to bring [valuables].” “We discourage the kids from bringing their electronics. You are allowed to bring them, but you bring them at your own risk,” explained Espinoza.
Students do get caught. “This year I’ve made maybe three to four arrests with students in possession of stolen items,” said Espinoza.
“At the beginning of the year we explained to every freshman that came in exactly what to do. We said, ‘This is how you do it; you put it in here; you have to have a lock.’ If you don’t have a lock, you can get your stuff stolen and it’s pretty much your fault,” explained Newmark.
Various students who have had their possessions stolen have admitted to failure to secure their locks in the locker room.