Cellphone thefts are on the rise at Fresno State, and authorities say students need to keep watch.

Eight cellphones were stolen or attempted to be stolen between August through September.

Campus Police Sgt. John Gavel said that represented an 800 percent increase from previous years in the same time period.

“For the same time period, there was only one reported last year,” Gavel said. “The same goes for 2010”” there was only one.”

In the 2010 to 2011 school year, there were a total of 19 reported cellphone thefts on campus all year. For 2011 to 2012, there were 15.

Gavel said that the main targets were smartphones because the value of such devices has increased greatly.

On August 30, several robberies took place where two male suspects with guns approached individuals on campus and demanded the victims give them their cellphones, said campus police. The suspects then rode away on bicycles.

Another incident took place on September 18 where an unknown suspect attempted to steal a cellphone from a victim who was walking with a bicycle near Shaw and Chestnut Avenues. The suspect approached the victim on a bicycle and asked to use their cellphone. The suspect then tried to leave on his bicycle with the cellphone, but the victim was able to get it back.

“Basically the smartphones are the target of choice,” Gavel said. “IPhones are big. But Samsung Galaxies and other similar phones are popular targets.”

Gavel said that the main reason phones are stolen is lack of student awareness.

“It doesn’t take much to get your phone stolen,” Gavel said. “Most of the time it’s people forget their phone. They go into the restroom or something and think ‘oh man, I forgot my phone.’ Then, when they come back, it’s gone.”

Though statistics on thieves were not accessible, as many are not caught, Gavel estimated that people who are not Fresno State students carried out a high percentage of the thefts that are happening on or near campus.

Gavel said that criminals attempt to blend in to their surroundings before making thefts by dressing in an unassuming way.

“The urban camouflage is you dress like students”” you throw on a backpack so you blend in and as you walk past someone you pick something up, like their phone, and take it with you,” Gavel said.

To keep phones and laptops safe, Gavel suggested a few simple actions.

“You can have your friends watch your stuff for you,” Gavel said. “Or, just always be aware of what you have on you. Take it with you, no matter where you go.”

Students on campus also feel that cellphones should be kept out of sight.

Sara Walters, a master’s of fine arts student in creative writing at Fresno State, moved to California from Florida and was warned by friends to keep her cellphone close to her because cellphone theft was a problem.

“I try not to hold it in my hand when I’m walking at night,” Walters said.

The emails that campus police send to students, alerting them to different crimes that take place on campus such as cellphone thefts, have also made an impact on the way Walters carries her cellphone.

Durrel Simpson, a computer engineering student in his junior year, said students should keep their cellphones out of sight and travel in groups when they are on campus at night.

“I say travel in groups”” it’s always best to travel in groups,” Simpson said.

Simpson had a cellphone stolen two years ago near Manchester Mall. He and a friend were attacked and had their possessions stolen.

“I’d say the only way to prevent that type of stuff is just not show it off as much. People walk around with their phones in their hand and it’s kind of a signal,” Simpson said. “I’d say try to keep it out of sight depending on what place you go to.”

To report cellphone thefts or other stolen property, call Campus Police at 559-278-8400.

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