Many students may not be aware of the tasks that need to be done before leaving for Thanksgiving break, such as buying timers for the lights, stopping the mail and locking the doors.
University Police Chief Ron Michalec said students should take steps to make their apartments and houses look occupied while they are away.
He said students tend to be too trusting, causing them to let their guard down. This could make them easy prey for criminals.
Willie Young, director of Off-Campus Student Services, said students need to be more aware of their surroundings to prevent crimes against themselves and their belongings.
“When transporting possessions from places of residence to vehicles as students go home for the holidays, they should be as close to their front doors as possible, because they never know who may be watching,” Young said.
Michalec wants students to go one step further.
“Students need to be at the top of their game all the time,” Michalec said. “When transporting belongings to a vehicle, I recommend making eye contact with all people so they know students are aware of their presence.”
Anyone who wants to avoid being the victim of a criminal is to think like a criminal, said one Columbus police officer.
“People planning to commit a crime know areas inhabited by students become ghost towns during Thanksgiving weekend and winter break,” said Officer Mark Hauenstein. “Criminals are opportunists, and the best way to beat them is to think like a criminal. Students need to take that into consideration and take the proper precautions to protect self and property.”
Hauenstein also urged students to protect their identity as well as their belongings.
“Students need to secure financial information and anything with a Social Security Number on it by locking it up or taking it with them,” he said. “Those are good precautions to take to avoid identity theft.”
Michalec recommended taking an inventory of all items of value, writing down the make, model and serial numbers plus PIN identification to make recovery of these items easier if they are stolen.
BuckEyes Watch, a neighborhood block watch program for students, can help prevent crime by having people watch out for the others who live on their street.
“BuckEyes Watch is currently on two streets and is expanding,” Young said. “It requires students to get to know their neighbors and work together to prevent crimes.”
Michalec suggested students consider what they would do if they are crime victims.
“It is important to plan ahead so panic will be reduced and a person can make rational decisions and perform better under stress,” he said. “I recommend self-defense classes to learn to think on your feet.”
