NIU Police are offering students the opportunity to register their electronics with the department to avoid theft.

Sgt. Alan Smith said the service is similar to the bike registration service that has become popular with students.

“As in the case with the bikes, we allow people to register their things with us in case of a theft or a fire,” Smith said. “Sometimes students don’t lock their doors, or leave things in the lab or libraries and people see an opportunity, but with this service, at least you have the chance to get it back.”

The serial number of the product, as well as a few other things, are all that is needed for registration, said Smith.

“We get the serial number as well as an in-depth description of the product, and we store [it] in our database in case of emergency. It’s all free,” Smith said.

MPA graduate student Neo Reeves, said he still has questions about the process, such as if jurisdiction will be considered with the service.

“I would wonder if jurisdiction is an issue. What happens when somebody steals something here, then goes to the city [Chicago]?” Reeves said. “The Chicago Police looking for your laptop when they have murders to worry about is another story.”

In a day-and-age ran by technology, some students are also worried about what exactly will be done with the information needed for registration.

“If they were using the information to track students locations at any given time using the cell phones registered through the service, I would definitely not approve,” said senior OMIS major Daniel Krouse. “I think I would need to hear more about it.”

Some students think that it needs to be advertised more to underclassmen to reach students.

“It is a good service no matter what, I just don’t think many students will know about it unless they market it towards the underclassmen who still live in the dorms,” Reeves said.

Smith, however, said that many students have been utilizing the service so far this year and encourages more to take advantage.

“We have had a lot of people come in and register this year,” he said. “It is helpful because we get a lot of cell phones that are dead turned in, but if they are registered, we can get them back to their owners.”