As a senior here at Tech, I’ve never felt like Blacksburg was a town with a crime problem. But, unfortunately, a few bad apples can ruin things for everyone. During a party this weekend at my apartment in Pheasant Run, a collection of items, including digital cameras, video games and an iPod were stolen from my roommates and me. What was most upsetting was the fact that my camera had an album of photos on it that were part of an academic project that I will no longer be able to complete.
While I am certainly not naive enough to believe this letter will result in the return of these items by individuals who realize they might have made a mistake in stealing, especially from a house that offered them a party to attend, I hope it might bring to light a problematic issue. I have always been impressed by the overall friendliness of Hokies and how tight-knit our community is, and it’s unsettling to have to address this concern. I’ve spoken to other students, and I know larceny has become an issue here at Tech, on and off campus.
The Collegiate Times’ Web site has a Campus Crime Database that cites data on reported criminal activity on campus and the specifics of each case. Larceny is far and away the most prevalent crime on campus with 362 reported cases. I’m sure I can speak for other students in saying that it is unacceptable that we should have to worry about theft from our fellow classmates. Physical items can be replaced when lost or stolen, but regaining an atmosphere of security after it has been breached is a more difficult task. Hokies have shown in the past that they can bond together for a common cause, be it a football game, the Big Event or a campus tragedy. Tech should represent excellence in academics, community service and athletics, but it should also exemplify a safe place to live; don’t tarnish Tech’s image with theft, dishonesty and crime.
Eric Spain
Senior
History & business major
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don't let strangers in to your house.
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also, that sucks that it happened. Hope you're able to still complete your project.
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Hey Eric, I'm real. Welcome to the real world, where not everyone is a good guy. Your words show you live in a fantasy world and will continue to be a victim as criminals like me... because you're an ignorant and easy target.
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You let people into your home, sounds like people you didn't know as well, your things got stolen...boo hoo.
This is not some crazy new trend btw, but that was a good idea to try and gain sympathy, you'll get none from me, just like the people who leave their dorms open when they go to class and are surprised when their computer is stolen...
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Jeesh, what a bunch of nasty comments. . .
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Wait a minute...Larceny is the big crime at tech? What about the people who are shot and beheaded?
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I am Eric's roommate, and it should be noted that these people were NOT invited into our home. We had a small gathering with close and trusted friends that night, when a large party down the street ran dry. At that point over a hundred people tried to enter our house, even though we were standing at the door attempting to refuse them entry. It took over an hour to force them all out, and by the time we had, the belligerent drunks had already stolen our possessions.
What I have learned from that night and from these comments is that the next time people like 'Criminal' and 'Chris' attempt to enter my home, I should instantly drop to their petty thug level and fight instead of reasonably asking them to leave. It's a shame because I'm sure that for every one of the criminals that came, there were a handful of honest people worth meeting, but thanks to the few of you that insist on acting this way, we're forced to drive them all away.
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Yes that story sounds very plausible, a giant hoarde of rampent drunks came batting at your door...A lock maybe? Shut your door?
Just because I am not seeing you as a victim doesn't mean I'm a bad person just an honest one. I am not going to cry and hold your hand and take your side just because you had stuff stolen.
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What makes you believe Chris is a thief?
Is it the fact that he doesn't take your side?
Not for the robbee so he must be the robber?
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Hold on Hold on... sooo you what? Had your door flung wide open and some giant mob of drunks just suddenly saw it open and decided to crash it?
I saw a giant chicken eat a mans face yesterday!
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Thanks for illustrating my point beautifully- it's people like you that are the problem, but I'm glad you're keeping it real Criminal, I'm sure you're going places in life. And Chris, I wasn't looking for any sympathy whatsoever- I was trying to make people think about the community they are part of and how they should make a conscious effort to respect other students and their property.
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Where are these people coming from to have such callous and ridiculous reactions to a well written and reasonable opinion? Its a shame that you can't have people over without hiding the 360, DVDs and liquor with guys like criminal roaming Blacksburg. Hopefully for all of us, we read about these people in the next police beat. In the meantime guys, hit up my friends at Sharkey's and lock your doors. How sad that it has come to that...
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You seem to be the kind of person that will have a child beat someone up and then you will say, "But he is ALWAYS a good kid..." even though he does drugs, smokes, and drinks.
Where is this notion coming from that humans are inherintly (Spell?) good? I would vouch a guess that a larger majority of college students, especially drunk ones, will commit petty crimes. Yes you should lock your valuables up if you have strangers coming over, that is called common sense. If you like your world then leave the door to your house unlocked and open all the time, im sure nothing will happen...
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Eric, you're an idiot, and this article and your comment prove it. If you think criminals come online to tell you their plan to rob you, you are truly oblivious. I'm not really "a criminal" I'm playing one here to show you how ignorant you're being. Can you comprehend now that I'm spoon feeding it to you?
Worse, do you think your pouty article is going to sway people? Theft is a crime of opportunity, and by letting these people in your house you not only gave them opportunity but also showed them you are weak. If they really barged in, which I doubt they did, you can call the police or use force - though clearly you don't have the guts to use force, and weren't smart enough to call the police.
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Wow I guess you couldn't comprehend my article or my comment- I don't see where I stated or implied that "criminals come online to tell me their plan to rob me". I can see that you can dish out sarcasm but don't realize when it's given back to you. I don't think that you're a criminal, but I do think you have a lack of morals and your badass attitude of cynicism is SO cool (sarcasm). The problem that I am referring to is the mindset of people like you. I do not live in a fantasy world nor do I believe everyone in this world has good intentions. But what I do think is that Virginia Tech is a community of students that aren't here to rob each other. You're right, theft is a crime of opportunity- whether the thieves are in your house because you were having a party or they break in while you're not home. My "pouty article" as you so put it, was attempting to make people realize that stealing from our classmates detracts from the safety of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech as a whole. The thing I think is funny is that everyone who has directed comments towards me has been focusing on background information, not the actual point of my letter. Read the last three sentences of the letter again and maybe you'll see you're the one who is being ignorant.
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So when you graduate and move to...anywhere lets say Richmond. If your house gets robbed are you going to write a letter that says Richmonders are not here to rob each other, we as Americans need to pull together and stop petty crimes!
Why is Tech supposed to be this immaculate exception to crime? Your view point is so misguided but since it is an opinion I will just let it go I guess, but buck up and face the fact that even a good hearted hokie, who sat and cried with you on 4/16 may turn around and swipe your iPod. Don't trust strangers.
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Well I think it's really hard to compare Virginia Tech/Blacksburg- a small college town with a large student population, to Richmond- a large city that has frequently been ranked within the top 50 of the most dangerous cities in the US. I don't expect Tech to be an immaculate exception to crime, because that's impossible, I would just hope that students at at Tech would be more respectful of their classmates and neighbors and realize how it impacts the small community they live in. I only wrote this letter because I thought more highly of the Tech student population and Blacksburg than I would of some random large city, but clearly those bad apples I talked about have proved me wrong. And I also definitely wouldn't think a student that steals ipods and cameras from a fellow student at a party was a "good hearted hokie". But, like you said, opinions can't be wrong and while I also see your opinion as being very misguided, clearly we just think differently.
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PALEASSE! Cry me a river you pansy.
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While it sucks what happened, I hope you learned a lesson here. When throwing a party, even with people you may know, it's always safe to lock up possessions. Whether Tech is safe or not, you're in the real world. While it may be sad that you must have a guard up all the time, its the harsh reality of life.
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And here I thought people were inherently good...
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This reads more like a 'lesson learned' story rather than a legitimate lament about the current state of society.
You were having a small gathering. People you did not know entered your residence. And you are complaining that instead of immediately securing your residence, you should have been able to make new friends without worrying about your possessions?
I'm very sympathetic to your loss of possessions, but this incident reflects more on your behavior than your fellow students. You've learned the hard way that you can't trust everyone you meet 'by association'. That lesson will serve you well going forward.
Lastly, you assumed they were all Tech students while admitting you didn't know know them. Not every party on a college campus is made up of only students of the college.
Keep your residence secure. Do not allow people you do not know or know very superficially to freely wander your home. While I agree that our society could be a better one, theft is as old as time.
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during halloween someone stole my doormat in front of my apartment :( it said "wipe your paws" because i have a doggy.
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While yes it sucks you got your stuff stolen, you gotta be a little smarter next time obviously. It bothers me when people have this mentality that VT is such a great place and nothing bad can ever happen here. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Tech and I wouldn't change anything, but people are human beings. It doesn't matter if you're in Richmond or Blacksburg, if you leave expensive items around people are going to steal them.
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I think that comment was a joke to make fun of the author who lives outside the realm of reality, but your point is still good lol
If you did know it was a joke then good point and ignore the other stuff :-D
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i wasn't joking and the doormat was 10 bucks. its not about expensive stuff and its not about me being naive, it was about a buncha drunken hooligans that thought it was funny to take it.
i don't think having my doormat stolen and me just attempting to relate to the article has anything to do with me thinking blacksburg is no different than any other place filled with people that'll do humane things or deviant things.
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