Editor’s Note: The accompanying video demonstrating dorm security will posted Saturday.

A recent influx of BOLO e-mails has turned attention to the safety of students who live in dorms.

There have been two intrusions already this semester in Carrollton Hall, where property was stolen and NOPD made an arrest in one incident. In both instances, Loyola students allowed the suspects, who did not attend Loyola, to enter the building, said Capt. Roger Pinac, University Police.

“Once you are in through the front doors, you have full access to the building,” Robert Reed, Residential Life director, said.

“All you need is to piggyback off of another student walking out or convince someone to simply let you in.”

Reed has been at Loyola for more than 25 years and said he sees this kind of thing happen all the time.

Once someone who doesn’t belong in the building is in, he can easily access dorm rooms or suites because students routinely leave their doors unlocked.

“The system is only as good as the people. The residents are letting these people in,” Reed said.

“We want them to feel safe when they are here but they need to understand that they cannot leave their doors unlocked.”

Cameras were installed in every dorm last summer and have helped to catch intruders. In both instances in Carrollton, the intruders were caught when the camera took a picture of their faces.

Both Reed and Pinac said that once the desk assistants are no longer on duty, there is really no way to monitor who comes in and out of the buildings.

“These incidents happen when the desk assistants are not on staff,” Pinac said.

“They are off of duty at midnight and I guarantee that if you do not live on campus and you try to enter the building at 2 a.m., it will not be a problem.”

Rachel Henderson, history senior, said she feels very safe living in Carrollton even though the intrusions did make her a little nervous.

“It is very easy for someone who does not live in the dorms to enter the building. You just walk in behind someone or go in with your friends,” she said.

“The desk assistants are doing their jobs when they are there, but they are not always there to monitor who comes in and out.”

Pinac said Biever, Budding and Cabra doors lock behind students, but students prop them open or stick their keys on the outside of the door, making it easy for someone to walk in and steal property.

“The suites in Carrollton are designed so that right when you enter, there is a large common area,” Pinac said.

“Students walk in, drop their purses, keys, and wallets, and then go to their bedrooms. They need to bring their belongings to their bedrooms, which lock automatically, to ensure their safekeeping.”

Reed said he tries to educate residents about leaving their doors unlocked, but there are always loopholes.

Ideally, he would like to have someone working the desk around the clock, but there aren’t enough resources for that.

In the meantime, both Pinac and Reed advise students to remember to lock their doors, keep their valuables locked up, and watch who they let into the buildings.

Katy Bodin can be reached at [email protected].