During the winter break each year, Wake Forest students’ off-campus residences near Wake Forest have experienced, historically, a spike in the occurrence of break-ins and property thefts.

Recently, Residence Life and Housing sent several security-related tips to students who live off campus to help reduce the potential for such incidents at their residences. The information was included in the December edition of the e-newsletter that Residence Life and Housing e-mails to off-campus students.

Wake Forest students’ off-campus residences tend to be close to the University, but some are many blocks away, while others may be miles away.  Students living off-campus, generally, live in neighborhoods that are in the jurisdiction of the Winston-Salem Police Department.  Winston-Salem police officers patrol those areas.  University Police Department officers patrol primarily on campus, as well as at University facilities close by, such as Reynolda Village and BB&T Field.  University officers also patrol some streets adjacent to campus.

The recommendations given to students included the following:

  • Record the model and serial number of your valuables, which you do not intend to remove from the house during the Christmas Break and record them with University Police at: http://wfu.edu/forms-pubs/operation-id/#form
  • Take any and all portable valuables with you when you leave for the break.
  • Make an appointment with a University Police detective to walk through your house with you and assist you in finding serial numbers on your valuables and how to secure your home. They may be reached at: Teresa Carlton carltotl@wfu.edu, Ted Johnson johnsotb@wfu.edu
  • E-mail University Police at police@wfu.edu and let us know the dates your house will be unoccupied during the break so we can share the information with the Winston Salem Police Department.
  • Make sure that all doors and windows are locked and secured.
  • Close all blinds.
  • If your home has a security system, please make sure it is turned on. If it doesn’t, consider putting a home security system sign in your yard. This won’t guarantee they won’t test out whether it’s valid, but it could deter them.
  • Ask a neighbor, or friend to keep an eye on your home. See if they would be willing to pick up your mail and newspapers while you are gone.
  • Consider buying timers for your lights. This will help create an illusion that someone is still there.
  • Ask your landlord if he/she would consider installing motion detector flood lights to the exterior of your home.

 

 

Contact

To contact the Office of Family Engagement or Family Communications, please visit our contact page.

 

For mental health assistance: 336-758-CARE (2273) is a service that ensures someone will always be available (i.e., 24/7 M-F, weekends and university holidays) to provide caring and thoughtful consultation services for Wake Forest students in need of mental health assistance or support.