The BYU mindset: Trust everyone. No one steals, lies, cheats or violates the Honor Code. Here, criminal activity doesn't exist.

"I just think it's human nature where all of us live we get comfortable with our environments," said Jeff Strong, sergeant of the BYU Police Department. "Once you're in your comfortable surroundings nobody wants to think, 'this is the place where someone is going to rip me off.' BYU is a wonderful place, but there is not this wonderful magical protection around us that stops people from coming in."

For library patrons, the number one security problem in the Harold B. Lee Library is theft of personal items.

Although BYU campus is generally thought of as a safe place to come, students need to be aware that theft and other criminal activity is still a problem that occurs at the library and other locations on campus.

"The biggest reason theft is a problem is because BYU students are so trusting," said Mark Robison, a library security officer from St. George, Utah.

To decrease the amount of thefts in the library, security officers said students should keep their personal items with them at all times.

When students need to get up and leave their belongings, they should ask a friend or someone around them to watch their items while they are gone, Strong said.

He warned that if students are not careful, they may find themselves missing important items: lab top computers, cell phones, wallets, credit cards, cash, their backpack, text books and other items of importance.

In 2005, there were 57 thefts reported in the HBLL alone not including unreported thefts.

Everyone is susceptible to theft.

Even one of Strong's own security officers, who knows firsthand about theft, had his lab top stolen while studying in the library, he said.

Another library security officer, Alan Johnson, a senior from New Jersey, said a friend got his textbook stolen the day before finals.

"In order to study for his final he had to buy a whole new one," he said. "He used it for one day. I felt bad for the guy."

With seating for 4,000, the library naturally attracts thieves, Strong said.

Although BYU students are not dismissed from participating in crimes, most of the perpetrators are from the local community and even other schools.

"A lot of people think it's only BYU students that use the library," Robison said. "But other local students use it too."

One of the most common locations in the library where items are stolen are near computers.

Along with theft, library security also deals with other problems, such as students that are being stalked, enforcing the no food or drink policy and minor issues of disorderly conduct, Strong said.

Strong has had incidences when girls feel threatened because they believe they are being stalked in the library.

"The vast majority I've seen are guys who feel socially inadequate to approach a girl and say 'hi,' Strong said. "He thinks she's really beautiful so he just follows her everywhere she goes. Then she starts getting creeped out by it and he doesn't know why. He's being more obvious than he thinks he is."

Even though security issues occur, students should not be paranoid because BYU campus is generally a safe place to be.

"In relationship to how many hours we're open, and if you were to put us up against many other places in America of similar type situations," Strong said. "We'd probably do pretty well."

If students notice they are missing items:

1) Double check the area 2) Contact library security immediately. Don't wait until weeks and months later to report lost items. 3) Ask people if they noticed any suspicious activity 4) If necessary, file a report with the police department

Copyright Brigham Young University 10 Oct 2006