By Alex LaCoste (March 15, 2003)

Principal Bob Snee has recently expressed concern about theft in George Mason High School. In an e-mail that he recently sent to teachers immediately following the recent production of the musical Okalahoma!, Snee informed the staff about his concerns.
 

"Last evening a young man performing in the concert left his street clothes in the band room on a chair while he was performing in his tuxedo on stage. We assume that while the room was unattended and unlocked, someone entered the room and removed his wallet from his pants pocket," wrote Snee. While a custodian found the wallet with the contents intact in the men’s room, Snee’s message is clear: That in almost all cases, theft at George Mason is a result of opportunities provided by students leaving their possessions unguarded.

Unattended backpacks like these in the senior alcove provide opportunities for a few unscrupulous thieves  to steal.  (Photo by Alex LaCoste)

Snee wrote that "in nearly every instance, it’s a matter of the victim having walked away from his or her valuables for some period of time, only to find later that items are missing."

Assistant principal Dr. Bilby said, "If 99 percent of the school doesn’t steal anything, that still leaves six or seven people that are out looking for trouble."

The school has been trying to take precautionary measures to prevent theft by warning students to "never bring to school more money or property than you are willing to lose or have stolen."

Snee said that recently he had witnessed examples of opportunity theft waiting to happen as after school he came across many backpacks parked in the hallway while students were engaged in team practices.

In his memo Snee asked teachers and coaches to "remind students to hold onto what is theirs because there is certainly someone lurking about who will be happy to steal their property."