If you live in a Residence Hall:
- Always make sure your door is locked when you leave – even it’s just for a few minutes. Make an agreement with your roommates that you will all lock the door as you leave your apartment, room,or suite.
- Also make sure the door is locked when you’re inside your apartment, especially if you’ll be upstairs, in another room, or sleeping. Many times, a thief will enter an unlocked residence to find that he/she has free reign on the bottom floor or in the entry room, because all of its residents are elsewhere or asleep.
- Place valuable items out of sight, and preferably in locked areas. A laptop, a game console, or an iPhone are easy targets for potential thieves.
- Determine who is on the other side of the door before opening it. If the person claims to be from a repair service or utility company, ask them to provide company ID, or confirm that they’re scheduled to work in your room with your Resident Advisor or Associate Residence Director.
- Consider buying a laptop cable to secure your computer to your desk. There are laptop cables available at Bird Library for your use – just ask the service desk, and you can borrow one for a few hours.
- Never leave your belongings unlocked and unattended. Unattended, unsecured property (like cell phones, wallets and laptops left on tables as their owners are elsewhere) accounts for most of the larcenies on Syracuse University’s campus.
- Use a locker when you go to the gym.
If you live on South Campus:
- In addition to our basic safety guidelines, if you choose to live on South Campus, there are a few additional actions you can take to ensure the safety of yourself, your residence, and your possessions.
- As always, make sure your door is locked when you leave – even it’s just for a few minutes. But also make sure the door is locked when you’re inside your apartment, especially if you’ll be upstairs or sleeping. A thief may enter an unlocked residence to find that he/she has free reign on the bottom floor of the house, because all of its residents are on the second floor.
- Be sure all outdoor lighting features on your apartment are working. If they malfunction, notify FixIT right away.
- Place valuable items out of sight and preferably in locked areas. A laptop, a PS3, or an iPhone are easy targets for potential theives. This is an essential action to take before you leave for break.
- Determine who is on the other side of the door before opening it.
These guidelines and more are covered in “South Campus Pads,” a safety video produced by the Department of Public Safety: