Heading Back to Campus? Think Safety!

Hey parents: Is your son or daughter heading to college soon?

“The start of the fall semester is an exciting time of year for incoming freshmen and returning students alike, but it can be easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of campus life and not be as vigilant about personal safety as we should be,” according to StreetSafe, a personal mobile security service that combines the GPS technology in smart phones with a 24-hour state-of-the-art call center. 

Regardless of if yours is a returning student or a recent Pine-Richland High School graduate headed to college for the first time, here are some helpful safety tips from Marcia Peot, a full-time police officer and chief safety officer at StreetSafe. 

1. Let friends or roommates know where you are going, who you are with and when to expect you home.

2. Never leave outside doors propped open and don’t let strangers into secured buildings or residence halls.

3. A stranger is still a stranger, even if he or she is a fellow student. Do not accept a ride or go off somewhere alone with a person you don’t know.

4. Do not drink in excess. When you do, your ability to make decisions becomes impaired, making you an easy target.

5. When approaching your car or residence, have your keys in your hand and check the area for suspicious individuals or activity.

6. When walking by yourself, keep expensive belongings such as laptops hidden. You will be less of a target.

7. The beaten path is the better path. Do not take shortcuts. Familiarize yourself with the area before heading out.