Whether you are in on-campus accommodation or living off-site in amongst normal residential areas, there will always be security issues. Things get stolen, valuables are taken including jewellery and electronic equipment; students do get mugged. This can be stressful at the best of times but when you lose items that are vital to your studies, it can make the situation worse. Follow these security tips for your student accommodation and protect that which is most valuable to you.
On Arrival
Check the Locks: On campus, you should check that the lock to your dorm room functions as it should, that the door locks and unlocks and the door closes properly behind you when you leave. Off campus, security of the entrances is paramount. In both cases, ensure the windows close and lock properly. Basic security tips are no good if the security devices are faulty.
Don’t wedge the door open: when moving your stuff in (and this applies to dorms and houses) as opportunistic thieves will be watching people come and go when moving boxes and equipment. Don’t give them the chance to steal from a car or from your house / room by leaving security doors open and vehicles unlocked.
At the end of term: Never leave valuables over the Christmas and Spring break when nobody will be in the property for 4-5 weeks.
General Day to Day Security Tips
Close windows when out: harder to forget in the colder months of the start of the academic year, but if you go out – no matter how short a period – make sure you close the window. It just takes a minute for a burglar to enter.
Leave a light on: The darker evenings means you will have the lights on more often. When you go out in the evening, switching the lights off is often the best way to show people there is nobody in. Opportunistic burglars will not take the risk if there is a possibility the home is occupied.
Don’t leave valuables on display: It’s easy to be lulled into a false sense of security with our valuables. Unfortunately, a quick smash and grab through a window for a laptop within easy reach is often enough to encourage burglars to attempt a break in.
Lock your car and never leave valuables on display: This is fairly common sense. Whether parked for prolonged periods or going to the supermarket, never leave anything valuable on display. If it must remain in the vehicle then hide it in the boot, under the seat or somewhere else it can’t be seen.
Personal Security
Finally, good basic personal security should be practiced at all times. Understand how safe or otherwise your university town or city is, or how safe or otherwise the area in which you live will be. No two university towns are the same. Keep personal belongings about you safe and hidden from view, try not to travel alone at night and avoid unlit paths. Even in a safe town, muggings and burglary remains a possibility.