College Students Urged to Secure Dorms, Apartments

The warning, up and down Commonwealth Ave. and to all college students: do not leave anything behind or unlocked as you go on break.

Thieves know Boston's students will be gone.

"To India," Boston University student Sushmita Dhekne said.

"To Congo," Boston University student Roshni Shukle said.

"Going home, going back to Maine," Boston University student Cayenne Outerbridge said.

Boston University students left the city on the final day of the semester after finishing exams.

Most, like Samantha Eakes are heading out of town, leaving their on-campus dorms, off-campus apartments and many of their valuables behind.

"(We) made sure all of our perishable food was gone. Locked our doors, turned off all the lights, the blinds, things like that. But I'm not really worried about a break-in of any sort," Eakes said.

But Boston Police Commissioner William Evans has a message for greater Boston's hundreds of thousands of college students.

Don't just leave it all haphazardly behind when you go because it might not be there when you return.

"Hadn't even thought of that, hadn't even occurred to me, that that could be an issue," said Boston University student Dani Rebellon said.

"Certain areas of the city experience higher levels of house breaks due to students forgetting to lock doors and windows during the departure for the holidays. This was the case during this past Thanksgiving weekend," the commissioner warned.

"I heard of a break-in on Egmont Street a month ago," said Boston University student Marisol Deornales.

"It's more like the apartments that don't have security. Like a townhouse basically, so easier to break in, I guess," Rebellon said.

One of the biggest warnings is about removing air conditioning units, a common entry point of would-be burglars.

Most students say they are taking precautions.

"I'm going to bring the stuff I need and lock the doors and I think it'll be fine," Outerbridge said.