A sufficient amount of attention is rarely given concerning the safety of valuables inside lockers. However, the contents of lockers can be very important.

Sophomore Taylor Eliason recently had her iPod stolen from her gym locker. Due to the theft of her iPod, Eliason started to lock up her valuables.

“They just don’t think that it will ever to happen to them; that things will get stolen,” Eliason said. “I didn’t think anyone would be that mean to do it, but they did.”

Students who wish to save time rig their lockers instead of using a combination. Several methods are used to rig lockers; some jam lockers with pens, pencils, paper or even candy wrappers.

Students who use rigged lockers typically don’t think their items are valuable. Although iPods and cell phones are not kept in lockers, hundreds of dollars of books, which students are accountable for, are stored in them.

“A rigged locker is basically an unlocked locker,” Mrs. Oberndorfer, campus supervisor and study hall teacher, said.

Rigged lockers are not uncommon to most seniors. Over forty-five lockers located in senior hall were rigged with either pencils, pens, paper or candy wrappers. A locker was even found in junior hall rigged with the stick of an unopened DumDum sucker.

People may steal for a variety of reasons. Some believe that people steal because they have the opportunity or to see if they can pull it off.

“They know that is wrong, but they don’t care that it’s wrong, so they’re going to steal anyway,” Eliason said.

Simple steps can be taken to protect important items. Do not bring valuables to school. Do not bring attention to valuable things. Never leave special items unattended. Keep lockers containing valuables securely locked. Never leave valuables in a car in plain sight.

If something is stolen, the best thing to do is report the theft immediately.