It may be back to school, but it's also time to watch your back. As students haul in the latest in electronics to their new dorm or other college residence, police say it's prime time for thieves to hit.

University officials say there's some things students can do to avoid becoming the next victim.

Bicycles and electronic equipment like laptops top the list of things thieves target, but there are things you can do that can help prevent

Juniors like Amanda Wattier have never had anything stolen, but she's always been extra careful.

"Just moving in, I had a lot of expensive stuff in my car. After moving it all from the house, you just make sure to cover it up," Amanda Wattier, student.

As a freshman, Wattier lived in the dorms and has this advice for incoming freshmen.

"Freshman moving into the new dorms -- just make sure you keep the door closed at all times. You can prop the door open and go to the bathroom, but people can slip in and steal something really fast," she said.

University police say new students who aren't use to city life can make easy targets. But sometimes the things they lose aren't always material possessions.

"I can tell you story after story of people taking so much time on their paper and their laptop ends up missing and their paper is lost. It's heartbreaking," said Jim Davis, University Police.

Rob Bryant, a local insurance agent, said some students may recover some of that loss by taking the proper precautions.

If you're a student living in the dorm, your parents policy may cover you in most cases. If you're living in an apartment, renters insurance may be the cost-effective way, he said.

But students may want to take a page out of Wattier's book by always being extra cautious.

University officials say they have a harder time recovering stolen items because many students don't keep track of the model and serial numbers of their things. But starting this year, the university police will have a link on their Web site, which will allow students to record those numbers on the site -- just in case.