The nine recent reports of vehicle break-ins on campus are an indication that in mere minutes, our most valued possessions can be stolen and never returned to us.

Let’s face it.

College kids live on a budget.

We cannot afford to replace our possessions just because someone decided to break into our cars and take them.

The bottom line is that we shouldn’t put ourselves in the situation.

The Butler University community needs to be more responsible when it comes to leaving possessions in a parked vehicle on campus, or anywhere for that matter.

Butler is located in a metropolitan area where crime is more prominent than less urban areas.

For example, in 2010, a total of 55,591 crimes were reported to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Data shows that nearly 46,000 of them were burglaries, larcenies and vehicle theft.

That breaks down to an average of 126 non-violent crimes reported each day.

It’s simple.

If you don’t want something stolen, don’t leave it unattended.

It’s unfathomable to me how someone can allow their credit card to be stolen.

Unless someone gets your card number, or your purse is stolen right off your arm, there are no excuses.

Credit cards and money are something you keep with you at all times.

Also it doesn’t matter how long you’re going to be away from your car. A break-in can happen if you’re away for 30 minutes or even 10.

Instead of leaving your purse, laptop or GPS in your car, carry it with you.

Personally, I think it’s less of a burden to carry a few extra things than replacing the items if they’re stolen from my car.

Besides, if you find it necessary to leave an item in your car, you more than likely didn’t need it in the first place.

Leave it at home.

Secondly, even if you don’t leave any valuable possessions in your car, don’t leave less-valued possessions, either.

Someone could see the less-valued items and think you have more valuable items hidden somewhere.

They might break in just to see what they can find.

Even a visible GPS holder or iPod cord could prompt someone to break into a vehicle.

In some instances, replacing a broken window can be more expensive than replacing stolen items.

Glass.net provides estimates around Indianapolis for replacing a passenger’s side window.

Estimates range from $100 to $200 for a 10-year-old, two-door car.

That’s quite a hefty bill for a college student. And that’s not even including the cost of replacing any stolen items.

My advice?

Be responsible, keep track of your belongings and keep your vehicles as clean and tidy as possible.

We should enjoy our time at Butler, without worrying about our belongings being stolen.