I'm about to move into a dorm for the first time, and I'm concerned about how to lock up my valuables. Should I just take my laptop and phone to the bathroom with me every time I go? Or is there a better way to keep these items secure?

Dorm-room thefts occur less often than you might expect ... and a Snickers bar is probably more likely to vanish than a laptop. Nonetheless, it's wise to be cautious, and — for a small investment — students can purchase some peace of mind, even if it turns out to be unnecessary.

While, sure, a thief can certainly run off with an entire lock box, it's easy to find boxes (or actual safes) that are designed specifically for college living and come with a cable that can be attached to a bed frame or radiator or any other large item that won't be dragged through the dorm-room door. For instance, the Sentry POO8E Compact Electronic Safe costs about $28.00 on Amazon Prime (which is free to college students for six months) and delivered right to your mailbox or campus post office. There are other similar options on Amazon or at Target or Walmart.

These boxes and safes are ideal for valuables such as cash, jewelry, passports and medications (and candy bars?) but are typically too small for a computer. However, inexpensive but effective laptop locks are readily found online as well and can be easily attached and detached as you move around. Models such as this one, cost under $10.00. Even so, “The Dean's" best bet is that you never use yours ... at least not after the first week.

And, if there's space enough in your dorm room, you can also invest in a metal file cabinet with a locking drawer. Although such cabinets may be flimsy and not much of a challenge for a seasoned burglar, they certainly will stave off invasion from a roommate's nefarious (or inebriated) friends.

Before you invest in any hardware, check with the housing office at your college to confirm that the college doesn't provide a desk drawer or closet with a built-in lock. Some schools — especially those with newer residence halls — will.

You can also purchase dormitory insurance at reasonable student rates. While this won't be much help if your passport flies away on the eve of your spring break trip to Cancun or if your history term paper is ... well ... history, when your laptop disappears, at least you'll eventually receive some compensation for your loss.

Finally, because thefts are minimal in many dorms, it's easy for students to become cavalier about security. But locking a dorm-room door is a smart strategy, wherever you live and regardless of how briefly you'll be gone. Nonetheless, more students are victims of thefts outside of their dorms than within. (Bicycle cables get cut even on campus bike racks; backpacks are lifted from cafe chair backs; wallets walk off in crowded bars or at concerts.) So chances are good that your dorm room will soon feel like a safe haven, regardless of whether or not you take these precautions.

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