A number of factors would determine if police are able to retrieve stolen items. One important factor, McGlothian-Taylor said, would be to write down serial numbers of objects like computers or other electronics so that the date can be entered into the Michigan Law Enforcement Information Network, or LEIN, which is responsible for aiding law enforcement by "maintaining a computerized filing system of accurate and timely documented criminal justice information readily available to all criminal justice agencies," according to Michigan.gov. 

"Our investigative department is very thorough and diligent in following up on cases," McGlothian-Taylor said. "A lot of it depends upon if there’s any witnesses, if people call us immediately to report a crime."

In cafeterias, only four thefts have been reported so far this year, as opposed to five last year. 

Several thefts have been reported happening to students while at work in a cafeteria or one of the Sparty's, although no one at MSU Culinary Services was available for comment.

Means to for a student or anyone on the university to prevent their items from being stolen are straightforward and, in the cases where a theft does happen, poor followed-through. A student locking their dorm rooms when they are both in the room and gone, RHS Communications Manager Kat Cooper said.

RHS does have surveillance cameras, although they generally only cover public spaces, such as around elevators, Cooper said. Footage has been handed over to MSU police in the past to help their investigations.

Due to the openness of many of the university buildings, leaving objects unwatched could pose risks. 

“You shouldn’t leave your stuff unattended," Cooper said. "We live in a safe place, but still a fairly open place where anyone can come in and out of the university. It’s public space and so when we leave things out in the open there’s always a risk that they could be stolen”.