At college, you have many possessions in your residence hall, apartment or house that are important to you. This may include laptops, tablets, televisions, gaming systems, documents, bicycles, and skateboards. You may also find yourself hosting your friends and others at your place. These can run from a small gathering of close friends to a big crowd where you have many guests you do not know. When having unfamiliar people to your house, there are some basic safety rules you should follow.
- Ensure that individuals that are entering your home are guests. Strangers can slip in and make off with your stuff because no one knew they weren’t invited.
- Don’t leave the front door wide open as an open invitation to anyone off the street. Even with a house full of guests, always lock your doors.
- Secure valuables in a safe area when entertaining others. Don’t make it easy for someone thinking they can make a quick snatch and run.
Other things you can do to reduce the risk of theft include:
- Maintain outside lighting and landscaping.
- Report suspicious activity near your residence.
- Secure your vehicle and remove valuables from your vehicle.
As an example, this past weekend a group of students were entertaining friends at their off-campus home. During the party, an individual unknown to anyone at the residence, entered the home and made off with several valuable items. Fortunately, an occupant noticed the individual and they notified the host who filed a report with the Springfield Police Department. An MSU substation officer investigated the incident and a short time later, located the suspect and obtained most of the items that were reported missing. The outcome of this could have been far different.
It is unfortunate some individuals will take advantage of a situation to make a few bucks. However, following these few simple safety measures can help you enjoy your night with friends rather than spending it with police trying to track down your stuff.
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