When Mary Kate McKeon stopped in the girls bathroom connected to the Commons, Aug. 27, and set her pink backpack on the floor, she had no idea it would be the last time she would ever see it or her personal belongings inside. McKeon, junior, is among many students who has had items stolen from them at KHS this year, according to officer Chad Walton, school resource officer. “In one week, I had over eight people come tell me their iPods had been stolen,” Walton said. “Theft is a serious issue at Kirkwood and I don’t think students realize it. There has been over 300 iPods stolen this year already.” At first, McKeon hoped she had misplaced her Vera Bradley Yellowbirdpurse she received for her birthday. “I had my entire purse stolen, my iPod video, my iPod Shuffle, [and] my new camera,” McKeon said. “I looked around everywhere in the bathroom and it just wasn’t there. My stomach dropped and I felt as if I was spiraling down a black hole.” Kayla Lohman, sophomore, believes theft at KHS needs to stop. “I think [theft] is a huge problem,” Lohman said. “People are stupid if they take other’s stuff. [Students] need to really make it clear that theft is not acceptable.” Matt Dumke, junior, also had his red iPod Nano stolen from him. “I arrived at school with my iPod and somewhere between signing in for IP and going to the library it was gone,” Dumke said. “At first, I thought I just put [my iPod] in a different place in my backpack, but then I started freaking out when it was gone.” Walton believes there are many steps students can take to keep their possessions safe from students with sticky fingers. “My main advice is don’t bring anything [to school] that you aren’t willing to have stolen,” Walton said. “Don’t expect that if you leave your $300 iPod on the table and go get a soda it will be there when you get back.” Walton recommends students write down serial numbers of their iPods and cell phones, know at all times where students place their belongings and notify teachers or grade level principals right away if any items are missing. Walton also advises students to make their items more distinguishable. McKeon is still upset about losing her purse and hopes others learn from her mistake. From [when I lost it on], I just began to cry and blame myself for what happened and I still blame myself,” McKeon said. “You have to keep an eye on your stuff and make sure you know where it is at all times. Don’t trust anyone sounds bad, but really you can’t.” Walton hopes theft at KHS will stop, but he will take more severe actions if it does not. “Students need to stop stealing from each other, but if they don't I will go to the Grand Jury and then check suspicious students to see if they have stolen property," Walton said. "I'm sick of this [theft] and I am going to do everything I can to put an end to it." Walton said that if students are caught with stolen property then they will consult school policies and the student will be subject to legal prosecution or arrest.