With Eugene Police Department statistics reporting that 87 residential burglaries occurred in the West and South University neighborhoods in 2009, it’s important for students to be aware of simple steps they can take to prevent their homes from being burglarized.
Taking precautionary measures to prevent burglary is the best protection against becoming a victim of theft.
“Always lock your doors and windows, even when you’re home,” said Kelly Dixon, manager at the West University Public Safety Station. “We have quite a few burglaries when people are home.”
The West University Public Safety Station, a satellite of EPD located at 13th Avenue and Alder Street, comes into contact with the bulk of University-area burglaries.
The station produces an annual brochure outlining simple precautionary steps students can take to protect their valuables. Many of these are quick things that students overlook.
“Record all serial numbers, and mark all valuables with your driver’s license number,” Dixon said. “We recover property all of the time, but we may never get it back to you because we have no way of confirming it’s yours.”
Dixon also suggested keeping areas well-lit to detract potential burglars, being aware of suspicious-looking people and hiding valuables from easy-to-see locations.
“If a burglar sees something they want, they’re going to try and get it,” Dixon said. “It’s best to deter a burglar by not showing them where your valuables are.”
“I lock up all man-sized windows and close blinds so they can’t tell what is in there,” University senior Charlie Hartzell said.
Students are especially susceptible to burglary during the long breaks between academic terms.
“If you’re going away for spring break, safeguard your valuables,” Dixon said. “It’s smart to take as many valuables with you as possible.”
“I keep all of my valuable items hidden out of sight whenever I leave,” University junior Megan Murphy said.
EPD offers free vacation house checks. Members of EPD’s volunteer program will routinely drive past properties of residents who request vacation checks to check for suspicious activity.
To sign up, visit the West University station and fill out a vacation house check form.
For students seeking further guidance on burglary prevention, the station offers help from EPD crime prevention specialist Steve Chambers. Chambers works one-on-one with concerned
students to outline potential crime threats.
TVs, cell phones, speakers, headphones, iPods and cameras can all add up to thousands of dollars, and many students do not have the income to replace stolen property. The few extra minutes it takes to protect a house before leaving can help ensure your possessions are protected.
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