Should I be worried?

[lostinthought]

Hi all,

I'm new here, but I just wanted to ask a question. I'm currently in college, and my friend (who says he's been into lockpicking for several years) has recently been sneaking into other dorm rooms. It takes him about thirty minutes per dorm room, and he uses a long sewing needle with a slightly bent end ( ) along with a lock pick set to open each door. I think the locks are SFIC Best locks, and our keys say MX8 on them. Should I be concerned that he now has access to pretty much the entire school?

[billdeserthills]

I can't believe he wants to be in trouble so badly that he would spend that long trying. My own quests for trouble (long ago) never exceeded 5 minutes.

Far as your question goes, why worry? Of course it is best that nobody finds out You know and didn't rat out your bud...

[GWiens2001]

Yes, you should be worried, both for yourself and for your friend. He is breaking and entering. And by failing to report it, you are in at least some states, guilty of being an accessory. Your friend needs to stop, and/or you need to end the friendship before he lands you in jail.

Gordon

[Protec2]

Run Forest, Run!

[Squelchtone]

You should alert Brown University Department of Public Safety, or we will.

We take our hobby seriously and we also take our ethics seriously.

Squelchtone
Forum Admin

[FoxMacLeod2501]

Perhaps, in addition to the basic ethics rule set we pickers abide by, how about this one: "if you have to ask..."

I think advice columnist Dan Savage puts it best, when people write him to ask if something they're doing, or considering doing, counts as "cheating." He tells them that if you're feeling guilty or worried enough to have to write an advice columnist to ask about it, then yes, it's cheating. That, and if you were to switch places with your partner, how would you feel about it?

I feel that both of those sentiments apply here. If you didn't know this guy, and found out later that he had done this to you (and I have to say, I can't shake the feeling he already has done it to you), how would you feel about it? What would you do about it in that case?

But, mainly, if you have to ask...

P.S.: Thank you for asking, though. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to make fun of you for asking or anything. It is good of you to have come to us to get some clarity on this; I'm new here, but I feel safe saying "thank you" on behalf of us pickin' folk. Stay out of trouble, buddy.

[Pixs]

Once he access the rooms, then what? Why is he doing it and what is your interest to follow him!

[Devhad]

You should alert Brown University Department of Public Safety, or we will.

We take our hobby seriously and we also take our ethics seriously.

Squelchtone
Forum Admin

How did you know what college he goes to? I'm impressed

[Devhad]

While you have no legal obligation to report criminal activity it's often not hard to establish evidence that you provided material support,aided or benefited in some way. For you friend the crime could be enhanced greater if he opens a room with someone in it, then, depending on your state could be burglary or home invasion. Either way the crime is already enhanced since it is a dwelling and not a business. Many times these crimes carry mandatory minimums.

[GWiens2001]

While you have no legal obligation to report criminal activity it's often not hard to establish evidence that you provided material support,aided or benefited in some way. For you friend the crime could be enhanced greater if he opens a room with someone in it, then, depending on your state could be burglary or home invasion. Either way the crime is already enhanced since it is a dwelling and not a business. Many times these crimes carry mandatory minimums.

In this state, as well as many others, if you know about a criminal activity and do not report it, you are guilty of "conspiracy to commit" the crime. In some states, it carries the same penalty as if you had committed the crime yourself.

As for how he knew the school, Squelchtone isn't the admin here just because of his good looks and excellent choices of beer.

Gordon