Crime Prevention Tips

• Take responsibility for your own security.
• Make sure that residence hall doors are locked during prescribed hours. If not, tell your RA.
• Lock your room door at all times. It only takes seconds for items to disappear.
• If you lose a key, report it immediately.
• Mark your property, specifically items like books and other small high value property. Use your driver's license number or your student ID number, and mark everything.
• Record serial numbers of your stereo equipment, televisions, and appliances.
• Don't bring valuable jewelry, antiques, or heirlooms to campus.
• Valuables in your vehicle should be placed out of sight; under the seat or in the trunk.
• Report crimes and suspicious activity immediately by calling the WCU Police Department at 911.
• Be aware of your surroundings, others who are around you, and any dark areas where someone might be hiding.
• Be alert to potential danger. If it doesn't look right or feel right, trust your instincts.
• Avoid anything that does not feel safe. If you don't feel comfortable, leave the area.
• Anticipate possible problems and know where campus emergency and pay phones are located. Note: Emergency phones on campus can be identified by a blue light on top. (See Picture)
• Walk with friends whenever possible.
• Avoid jogging or biking alone. And, if you must go alone, stay in well-lit, well-traveled areas.
• Have your keys out and ready before reaching your door or vehicle.
• Don't take shortcuts through dark areas.
• If you think someone is following you, change directions and call the police.
• If you see someone looking into the windows of parked cars or a vehicle driving slowly and aimlessly through the lots, call the police.
• If you own a bicycle, register it through the WCU Police Department.
• If you have an automatic teller card, memorize the personal identification code. Don't keep it with the card.
• Keep accurate records of your checks. Be alert for checks missing from the middle of your book.
• Keep a close eye on your credit cards and protect the numbers. If one is lost or stolen, report it immediately to the company and to the police.
• Don't make purchases from people selling door-to-door in the residence halls. They are violating University policy and many con artists focus on college campuses.
• Academic buildings close at 11:30 PM on weekdays, 5:00 PM on Saturday, and all day Sunday. You are not allowed in those buildings after closing. Students inside those buildings may be in jeopardy.

• Be Aware of your surroundings,
• Watch your property,
• Mark your property,
• Thieves generally break into vehicles to steal the things that they can see.

Computer Crime Prevention:

Use extreme caution when opening executable e-mail attachments (files ending in .exe). Sometimes a friend may unintentionally send you a virus. In other cases, people are sent hidden programs which give the sender remote access to your computer. When this happens, a person remotely accessing your computer can delete files, damage your hard drive, and eavesdrop on conversations in your room using the computer microphone.

Save nuisance/threatening e-mail and report to police and computer center.

Obtain, install, and use a good anti-virus software program and keep it updated.

CRIME PREVENTION TIPS FOR PARENTS

• Don't send cash in the mail. Campus mail thieves look for birthday cards.
• Pay close attention to joint checking accounts and question unusual circumstances.
• Check your auto insurance policy and your homeowner's policy to see if thefts which might occur here are covered.

This site is maintained by Western's Police Department. Please send comments and suggestions to
ehudson@email.wcu.edu