Reminding Students to Be Safe
Yesterday I had a long conversation with a mother whose daughter is here in summer school and had her purse stolen in an academic building. It seems the student left the purse unattended for just a couple of moments, and when she returned the purse was gone. The mother said that she thinks students need to be reminded that even at a place as nice as Wake Forest, crimes can still occur and students need to be vigilant.
The University Police department has a Crime Prevention web site with information that I am copying below. Parents, as you are with your students this summer, please talk to them about keeping their belongings secure: don’t leave the dorm room unlocked, don’t leave a purse/wallet/laptop unattended in a public place, etc. The old parental adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” might sound old fashioned to students, but there is wisdom in it!
From the Crime Prevention web site:
Be Alert!
Your safety depends mostly upon your own attitude and actions. Use common sense and do not place yourself in a location or situation to become a victim of crime
- Avoid walking alone at night.
Make arrangements to walk in groups and in well lit areas, and, whenever possible, use the campus Shuttle Service, which operates 7 days a week from 6pm to 3am. Call 7433 (RIDE) to arrange a ride. - Keep your room door locked at all times.
Locking your door, wherever you reside, is an effective way to reduce theft and enhance personal safety. The vast majority of theft occurs from unlocked rooms when the occupant is gone only briefly. Do not prop open exterior doors and close any doors that you find open. Propped doors are a high risk to everyone s personal safety. - Do not lend your key or key card to ANYONE.
This action could result in an innocent victim. Report lost or stolen keys to the police and your RA. - Report obscene, annoying, or harassing phone calls immediately.
University Police will investigate, and as patterns develop, they will work closely with the telephone company to apprehend offenders. For additional information, read Handling Harassing Phone Calls. - Report all security related maintenance problems.
Locks, doors, windows, and exterior lights in need of replacement and shrubbery in need of trimming should be reported immediately to the Facilities Management Service Line at 758-HALL (x4255) - Participate in personal safety and security awareness programs.
University Police frequently conduct programs that promote crime resistance skills. Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) is a personal defense course offered to women. For information on RAD or other programs, please call University Police at x5591 - Be aware of campus crime trends.
A Police Beat – Crime Log column can be read in The Old Gold and Black on a weekly basis - If you observe any suspicious activity or wish to report any criminal act, call the University Police at 911.