Here are some steps you can take to take care of yourself and be as safe as possible, either on campus or off.

• Pay attention to your surroundings.
• Pay attention to the people around you and take note of individuals who seem as if they don’t belong there.
• Lock your door (especially at night).
• Lock your door when leaving your room.
• Do not open doors for strangers. Identify a visitor before allowing them access. Contact the front desk or Public Safety if the visitor appears threatening.
• Walk with a friend, especially at night or early morning.
• Alert a roommate, friend or staff member as to your destination and when you expect to return.
• Walk in well-lit areas. (Notify staff of poorly lit locations.)
• Avoid shortcuts through dark or deserted areas.
• Never leave your keys in your car or your car open. Lock your car doors.
• Always report concerns you have about the safety of yourself and others!

Take Responsibility for Protecting Your Property

You are responsible for taking the necessary steps to secure your property. The following steps are recommended:

• Engrave valuable items with your name and possibly driver’s license number.
• Mark items that are regularly taken to class such as books, backpacks and calculators.
• Do not leave unattended valuables in plain sight and do not keep large sums of cash in your room or apartment.
• Arrange rooms so that high risk items such as cameras, stereos, televisions, etc., are not visible from the hallway or street when the doors or windows are open.
• Secure bicycles/mopeds when unattended with an over-sized shackle-style bicycle lock, or a lock and chain/cable combination with at least 5/8″ diameter chain or steel and a padlock, preferably one with a hardened case and shank diameter of at least 3/8 inches.
• Consider renter’s insurance to protect against loss or damage of property or check your family’s homeowner’s insurance to see if you are covered while away from home.
• Keep a list of bank accounts, credit cards and I.D. card numbers in a safe place in the event a purse/wallet is lost or stolen.
• Notify the police and Public Safety of a theft or loss.
• Notify card issuing companies and banks.

Bicycle Theft Prevention

While it’s not possible to make your bicycle 100% theft-proof, there are some simple steps you can take to increase the security of your bicycle and its parts:

• Record the make, model and serial number of your bicycle and store this information in a safe place.
• Use a case-hardened “U” lock; cable locks are easily cut.
• If you use a regular padlock, purchase one with a 7/16″ shank, the largest size that will fit the campus bike racks.
• Lock your bike in a well-lit area.
• Lock your bike in an area that can be seen by passing pedestrians or motorists.
• Remember to also lock parts attached with quick-release mechanisms.
• We recommend that you not bring extremely expensive bikes to campus. If you do, you may want to store it in your room overnight.