The ISU Department of Public Safety is warning students to watch their laptops and iPods during home football games.

Four laptops were stolen from Frederiksen Court apartments during the weekend of the Nebraska football game.

ISU Police Cmdr. Gene Deisinger said all the rooms were either open or unlocked.

Mary Beth Golemo, Frederiksen Court apartment community director, said she encouraged residents to report the thefts to the police.

A crime alert Golemo sent last Thursday to Frederiksen Court residents and staff directed students to contact ISU Police dispatch if they had information about the thefts.

Suspicious activity, such as someone entering a room in which he or she doesn’t belong, should be reported to DPS, Deisinger said.

A similar series of thefts occurred during the UNLV game, with laptops, iPods and digital cameras stolen from Buchanan Hall rooms. The Buchanan rooms were also open or unlocked.

“They were most likely walking down the hall trying door knobs,” Deisinger said.

Deisinger said he hasn’t seen a pattern in home football game day thefts like this before.

“If anybody has had property stolen, I encourage them to report that to ISU Police,” Deisinger said.

There are several steps students can take to protect their property.

Students should know serial numbers and model descriptions of their valued property, Deisinger said.

The most important way students can protect their laptops and valued possessions could be the simplest.

“We encourage people to close and lock their apartment room doors,” Deisinger said.

– Wes Kappelman