New security device aims to reduce laptop theft on campus

Lexee Hoene
Editorial Intern
York University may finally have a feasible solution to fight laptop thieves on campus.
The solution, patented by the STOP (Security Tracking of Office Property) program, comes in the form of a traceable steel barcode that have unique registration numbers that identify the laptop and acts as a theft prevention system.
According to director of security services Robert Kilfoyle, the implementation of the barcode will help discourage laptop theft on campus.

“[The STOP plates] are adhered to the laptops, so removal is practi- cally impossible,” he told Excalibur. “If people do remove them, it often destroys the laptop.”
Kilfoyle added that even if the stickers are scratched away, the laptop surface underneath would bear a fade-proof tattoo-like imprint that says, “This property is stolen,” just above a 1-800 phone number that can be called to turn in stolen laptops.
“Typically, pawn shops and those kinds of places don’t accept stolen property into their shops […] it becomes very, very difficult for thieves to resell.”

The STOP plates, which cost $14.95, will be available at the York Bookstore over the next few weeks; campus relations officers there will demonstrate how the product works.
“After a student buys one, we have staff that will adhere the [STOP plate] to their laptop and take care of registration and all that,” said Kilfoyle. “We will be setting up a table at Scott Library over the coming weeks as well.”
The STOP program has already been implemented at the University of Toronto, McMaster University and McGill University, and is even more widespread across the U.S.
Kilfoyle is still warning students that deterrence does not neces- sarily mean complete safety from campus thievery.
“No matter what happens, when there is opportunity, people will [steal]. It should help to eliminate theft […] but anyone who owns
a laptop still needs to be vigilant and not leave their property unattended.”
With files from Brittany Goldfield- Rodrigues