As students settle into the fall semester, USC’s Department of Public Safety is warning the community that theft remains one of the most common crimes on and around campus, particularly scooters, bikes and personal belongings left unattended in gym locker rooms.
Assistant Chief David Carlisle said scooters are the most frequently stolen item.
“By far, they are the number one items stolen at USC, both on and off campus,” Carlisle said. “Thieves are good at finding unlocked scooters or scooters not properly locked to a bike rack or solid object.”
Bikes rank second. Carlisle emphasized that students should always use a high-quality U-lock rather than cable locks, which can be cut within seconds, and register their bikes or scooters with DPS to prove ownership if they are recovered.
“Bring an inexpensive bike and an expensive lock,” Carlisle said.
According to the DPS Daily Crime and Fire Log for the months of July to September, over 25 incidents, including scooters, bicycles and petty theft, were reported last week in places such as residence halls, academic buildings and parking garages.
While scooters and bikes dominate crime reports, theft inside USC gyms has also left students frustrated. Senior Ariel Cheng said her bracelet was stolen from a locker at the Village gym in 2023 after she left it unsecured.
“It was in a black beach bag inside the locker. When I came back, everything was scattered: my ID, pens and even my Annenberg name card. But the bracelet was gone,” Cheng said. “I was just surprised it happened at USC, among students.”
Cheng said reporting the theft to DPS did not lead to a real investigation, and the experience changed how she views safety on campus. She now carries a lock at all times and advises peers to do the same.
At the Lyon Center gym, students must scan their USC ID to enter and are prohibited from taking their bags on the gym floor due to safety hazards, meaning students must part ways with their belongings during their workout. As a compromise, they offer daily-use lockers that are cleared by staff at the end of each day, and leftover items are placed in the lost and found. Locks are sold for $7 at the front desk.
This semester, USC lifted the campus ID checkpoint system that had restricted public access since spring 2024. Carlisle acknowledged that the change makes it harder to control who enters the campus.
“When ID checks were required, we could better control access. Now that restrictions are lifted, more unauthorized people can enter,” he said. “That is why high-visibility patrols and live-monitored surveillance cameras are so important.”
Still, Carlisle said most thefts happen because items are left unsecured or unattended, even in classrooms, libraries and gyms where students assume their belongings will be safe.
While DPS patrols heavily and works closely with LAPD, Carlisle said prevention ultimately depends on students. He recommends downloading the LiveSafe app, which allows emergency contact with DPS, anonymous reporting and SafeWalk, a feature that lets a friend track you while walking at night.
Cheng echoed that message.
“Better safe than sorry,” she said. “Always be cautious with your belongings and keep an eye on everything.”