Elaina Wang

Freshman Athmika Sivaramakrishnan rummages through bins in Jefferson’s Lost and Found. “The bins with the clothes in the Lost and Found are not that organized,” Sivaramakrishnan said. “I think [Jefferson] could improve on that.”

Jefferson students have increasingly found their belongings stolen or taken from Commons, classrooms or even the Lost and Found.

“One time, I lost my pencil pouch in the Lost and Found, [but then] I went back [and] I couldn’t find it,” freshman Alice Deng said. “[Students] see stuff in the Lost and Found and [then] they’re like, ‘oh, no one is probably gonna notice [if I] just take it.’ They don’t think that they’ll be caught.”

Getting caught stealing, especially from places like the Lost and Found where there are less security measures, is rare at Jefferson. Not many students can recount a time they’ve seen or heard of a classmate getting caught sneaking an item out of a Commons or the Lost and Found.

“I think if [students] need something and they pass a Commons or by the Lost and Found, and they just so happened to see whatever they were missing, they might just take it [without thinking],” freshman Michelle Kim said. 

It’s extremely important for both students and teachers to set up a form of communication or verification system within the Lost and Found to ensure that all students are reunited with their belongings only.

“If there is a way to verify the identity of whoever’s item it is—it’s kind of hard—but sometimes [students] have their name written on [the item],” Kim said. “[Maybe] they can show their student IDs or [their names on the item in order to obtain something] from the Lost and Found.”

Many students believe that implementing various consequences, such as writing up students, giving them penalties or reporting them to teachers for stealing could be extremely beneficial.

“Jefferson [could] set more rules so that there [would] be consequences if you’re caught taking stuff,” Deng said. “[For example], giving [students] warnings.”

Aside from warnings, others think there should be more dire consequences.

“Obviously a referral and talk to the parents,” Kim said when asked about proactive measures to combat stealing from common areas.” In [the] Commons, if there’s a pencil pouch, a lot of people would just take it without verification. We need to stop that.”

Some students believe having staff members near the Lost and Found and some Commons during passing periods would prevent the stealing of belongings.

“I think that TJ could increase security by having more people monitoring the Lost and Found. Less stuff would be stolen [if there was] staff or security,” Deng said. “[Right now,] people probably [steal] because [they think] no one is gonna see them.”

The bottom line is that students believe that people should not be stealing from the Lost and Found, with or without security. It’s important for Jefferson to have a certain level of trust and morality amongst students so everyone can feel safe and feel comfortable with leaving or accidentally losing their belongings.

“I haven’t lost anything [before], but I still feel bad. [It’s their belonging], not yours,” Kim said. “You’re taking it from someone who might actually need it.”