The end of the school year is the primary time for book theft, said University Police Lt. Matt Kiederlen.

Around this time, students might realize plans aren’t going the way they thought as far as their graduation date, or having to take extra classes, and might be looking to find books without paying for them, Kiederlen said.

Also because of book sell back, students might be looking to sell others’ books for money, Kiederlen said.

Book theft is evenly spread out between the Holmes Student Center, Founders Memorial Library and the residence halls, Kiederlen said.

Students shouldn’t leave their books where they might be studying. Students can also prevent book theft by placing them somewhere safe where they know they will still be when they return.

Becky Powers, a senior biology major, said she knew a student whose textbooks were stolen from his Stevenson Towers residence hall room when he left his door closed, but unlocked, to take a shower.

“He thought it was really weird because he had all this stuff in there, like [televisions], but they only took the textbooks,” Powers said.

Powers said she is cautious about locking the door of her residence hall room around this time of year because of potential book theft.

“It’s not like you have an ID for your book,” Powers said. “There’s usually nothing you can do about it unless you find the person that stole it.”