TTU HomeTechAnnounce

TechAnnounce

Printer friendly format
BURGLARY & THEFT PREVENTION TIPS FROM THE TEXAS TECH POLICE

BURGLARY &THEFT PREVENTION TIPS FROM THE TEXAS TECH POLICE

‘Tis the season to be jolly, but it is also the season to be wary of burglars, thieves and other holiday grinches. Nothing can ruin the Christmas spirit faster than becoming the victim of a crime.

It is often said that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. This phrase is particularly applicable in the field of law enforcement and public safety.

BURGLARY & THEFT

Crime statistics from law enforcement and government agencies, along with data from insurance companies generally highlight certain cities and neighborhoods that are more vulnerable to crime. Communities with college campuses are definitely not immune.

As a student, parent, staff or faculty member of Texas Tech University, you should be aware that property crimes on-campus, including theft, vehicle burglary and the occasional burglary of dormitories and academic buildings is an unfortunate and reoccurring problem.

Likewise, members of the campus community who live off-campus report similar experiences.

In an effort to help everyone enjoy the holidays without incident, here are a few easy tips that may prevent you from becoming a victim:

DORM ROOM BURGLARY & THEFT

• In order to gain access to the living areas inside campus dormitories, residents and staff members are required to enter through doors secured by electronic card reader systems. In theory, these systems protect residents by denying access to people who do not belong there. Unfortunately, many students who have proper credentials to open the secured doors hold the door open and allow “tail gating”. When this occurs, there is no way to know if the additional people admitted inside have legitimate business there. For this reason residents should deny admittance to anyone other than themselves and their own visitors. Residents seen violating these security practices should be reported to on-duty campus staff.

• Do you really know your roommate or guests? Would it surprise you to know persons known to you are the most common thieves? Do not leave valuables in open view, especially in the presence of people you may not know well. Cash, checkbooks, credit cards, jewelry and small items such as laptop computers and electronic devices are easily secured in locked drawers or economically priced lock boxes and safes.

• Be sure to close and lock your door if you are going to be away from your room. Even if you are only going to use the restroom or take a shower, LOCK YOUR DOOR. It only takes a few seconds for a fellow resident or loitering visitor to run inside and grab whatever isn’t bolted down. Be sure to keep tabs on your keys. Leaving them sitting out in open view in the shower room presents additional opportunity for the determined thief. Consider the use of a lanyard you can hang around your neck.

• Avoid large gatherings in your dorm room. Those twenty acquaintances and friends you intend to go out with for a night on the town may have other intentions when opportunity presents itself. Instead, choose to meet in the public lobby or in the parking lot outside.

• Do not brag about your new television, stereo, computer or other item of value, especially in public or online in social networking sites. Thieves will welcome your inadvertent invitation to deprive you of your treasures!

• Aside from the fact that it may cause unpleasant visits by the police and other campus officials, avoid dormitory gatherings with people you know are involved in the possession or distribution of illegal drugs. Similarly, avoid those who excessively abuse alcohol or seem to always be in trouble despite knowing better. You can bet sticky fingers abound in these circles.

• Immediately report suspicious activity to campus staff or police.

ON-CAMPUS THEFT

• If you don’t need to take valuables with you to class or to work out, leave them at home.

• Wallets, purses, college text books, laptop computers, iPhones, iPods and every other popular gizmo seem to be too tempting for opportunistic thieves. Avoid leaving your backpack, wallet or cell phone unsecured. These items are among the most common stolen. You can guarantee your property will walk away without you if you leave it unattended inside an academic classroom or hallway, inside public food courts, social gathering spots, or courtside at the Student Recreation Center.

• If you paid $1000.00 for a bicycle, don’t secure it with a $5.00 cable lock. It will walk away. Register your bicycle with Traffic and Parking Services, and consider your options to secure it inside your residence. If you decide to secure it to a bicycle rack, invest in a name brand u-bolt lock or other enhanced security locking device, and use it properly. Locking your tire to the rack will likely result in your tire still being there when you return. Your bike on the other hand, may have left without you. Also, ride your bike from time to time and secure it in different places. A bike sitting for months and gathering dust is sure to attract a new home.

• Engrave your name or other identifying information on your most prized possessions. Thieves are less likely to steal something for their own use if it has your name on it. You are also more likely that your property will be recovered and returned to you should it be sold or discarded.

OFF-CAMPUS RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY

• Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when leaving your house or apartment, even if you expect to be gone for only a few minutes.

• If you have an alarm system, make sure that it is working and that it is properly armed before you leave your home.

• Don’t openly display Christmas gifts in the front window of your residence or inside a vehicle within easy view of the street or public areas. It’s too tempting for a potential thief to smash a window, grab your treasures and run! Thieves often scout out easy targets and plan a later break-in based upon earlier observations.

• Show signs of occupancy! Burglars look for occupancy cues like outdoor lights burning 24 hours a day, piled up newspapers, mail or advertising flyers hanging on the door knob. Enlist the help of a neighbor, family member or trusted friend to pick up mail, and consider using a timer to control lights, televisions or radios so your house or apartment appears to be occupied.

• Burglars often look for doors and windows left unsecured due to the use of extension cords and holiday lights which prevent them from being closed properly. Make alternate arrangements to power your holiday decorations. If you must use windows for this purpose, secure these entrances by placing a dowel rod in the window track or use secondary locking devices.

• Don’t advertise your vacation! Everyone seems to be a fan of social networking these days. Burglars have access to Facebook too! Don’t post messages about your vacation plans or use the “check in” feature that has become popular on these sites. Likewise, do not leave descriptive voicemail or e-mail messages like “I’m out of town until…”. You may inadvertently share too much information!

• Burglars know to look for the “hidden door key” to your house. Don’t hide spare keys under rocks, in flowerpots or above door ledges. Instead, leave spare keys with someone you trust.

• After holidays, don’t pile up empty gift boxes from your new computer, television, game system, jewelry or other expensive items at your dumpster. Break the boxes down, cut them up or dispose of them at public refuse collection centers.

VEHICLE BURGLARY

• Park in well lit areas and those that sustain heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic whenever possible.

• If you must leave valuables inside of an unattended vehicle, lock them in your trunk if your vehicle is so equipped. Be sure to lock your doors and keep your windows rolled up, and keep a blanket or towel handy to cover up items which may be left on a seat or tailgate area. This is especially relevant for SUV’s.

• Avoid advertising that expensive stereo system or vehicular entertainment system with window stickers. An “awesome audio inside” sticker may look cool on the window, but is a magnet for the wrong type of attention.

• Remove radar detectors, GPS units and MP3 players from docking cradles and window mounts when the vehicle is parked. Hide them out of sight until you intend to use them.

• Avoid storing personal information in your vehicle, such as credit cards, check books, car registration and other documents with your name and home address on them. If you do choose to store such documents in your vehicle, secure them out of site and preferable locked up. Identity theft is all the rage these days.

• Do you own a hangtag parking permit? Roll up your window and lock your doors to keep sticky fingers out.

The Texas Tech Police Department and the Lubbock Police Department make every effort to ensure the safety of the campus community, both On-Campus and throughout the City of Lubbock. However, we cannot guarantee a perfectly crime free environment.

If you do become the victim of a crime, the Lubbock Police Department can be contacted directly at 806-775-2865. In case of emergency please call 911 using off-campus land line and cellular phones.

The Texas Tech Police may be contacted directly at 806-742-3931. When calling from on-campus land line phones call 9-911. Use 911 when calling from a cellular phone. Blue Phones located throughout campus may also be used to connect directly to emergency dispatchers.

Happy Holidays!

Posted:
12/17/2010

Originator:
David Parker

Email:
David.Parker@ttu.edu

Department:
Texas Tech Police Department


Categories