Thefts of money and belongings in the locker room, a documented problem over several years, continue, students say, yet according to Director of Safety and Security Michael McGehee, only one theft has been reported this year.
In late January, junior Victoria Syverson reported a theft of about $10 from her backpack. According to Victoria, during basketball practice, her backpack was left opened and visibly rifled through.
The theft was a surprise to Victoria, as her habit was always to leave her backpack on the floor in the locker room during practice.
“I walked into the locker room, and I noticed that my backpack’s pockets were open, and I thought that was weird,” Victoria said, “and then I saw my wallet lying on the floor of the locker room, just wide open, and its pocket open, too.”
After the incident, Victoria reported the theft to nearby adults.
It is common practice for students to store their backpacks and other belongings on the floor and benches in the locker rooms while they are at a sports practice. However, in light of the recent thefts, Victoria has changed her habits.
“I decided, after my stuff was rifled through, that I would just lock up my backpack in my locker,” Victoria said. “I hadn’t done that previously because it just seemed like so much of a hassle, but I think it’s probably better to keep it safer that way.”
Mr. McGehee recommends students lock all of their belongings in their gym lockers to reduce theft and keep larger belongings, like backpacks, in their school locker if they can’t fit in their gym locker.
Junior Jonah Chen said he has also had his belongings stolen in the locker room. He recalls leaving a portion of his P.E. shirt hanging out of his gym locker in seventh grade.
“I assumed no one would go for it, and then I came back two days later and it was gone,” he said.
More recently, last year, Jonah’s P.E. shorts were stolen from his locker. This time, however, his locker was shut and locked with no items hanging out.
After the two thefts, Jonah said he has become nervous about leaving his belongings in the locker room even if they are in his locker.
“I have to check a couple times just to confirm that it’s locked,” Jonah said. “But I guess in the end, it kind of doesn’t matter because the last time I got something stolen, the locker door was also locked.”
Beginning in fifth grade, all students are expected to dress in P.E. uniforms for class. This is for both the comfort and the hygiene of the students, according to P.E. teacher Tina Rivera. Students who do not wear their P.E. uniform in class will face a range of consequences, including a lower grade.
This policy has resulted in some students stealing other students’ clothes when they forget their uniform at home.
To combat this issue, Ms. Rivera implemented a P.E. uniform “rental” system, where students can borrow P.E. clothes for their class period and return them afterward.
Jonah feels like this new system has helped reduce the possibility of students stealing uniforms.
“I feel like things have gotten better because they have the borrowing system now,” Jonah said. “Now people don’t feel the need to take from somebody else to make sure that their P.E. grade doesn’t go down.”
