Don’t be fooled—although the campus seems to be crawling with cops from dusk ’til dawn, most people don’t see a bit of crime occurring at Middlebury in their entire four-year stay. What security is really scouring the campus for is illegally parked cars, underage drinking, unregistered parties, and drugs. In short, it’s not you that’s in danger—it’s your herb, your Heineken, and your Honda that you need to keep a close eye on. The College does, however, lock its dormitories and all other buildings after 11 p.m., as there have been a few cases of theft in the past couple of years. Drunken vandalism of facilities and dorms also occurs on occasion, which will not threaten your life, but it may threaten your wallet when you receive a “damage fee” at the end of the month. Bike theft, or “borrowing,” is also a favorite student pastime, so be sure to lock yours up.
Overall, Middlebury is an entirely safe locale, from the town to the College. The primary qualms that students have with security are bike theft and dorm room break-ins, which have only been known to occur during long vacations. Other than that, most students leave their rooms unlocked 24 hours a day while on campus. Vandalism and petty student offenses—such as public drinking, rowdiness, and parking illegally—are the most frequent “crimes,” so you’re more likely to be protecting yourself from rampant “security moms” than from hardened criminals.