While a series of recent break-ins have threatened DU students living off campus, those residing on campus are safer from crimes than a year ago.
As of February, burglaries on campus are down 75 percent and thefts down 36 percent from this same time last year, said Campus Safety Crime Prevention officer Sgt. Stephen Banet.
“Crime on campus is actually down,” he said.
This is likely due to several factors, he said.
Burglary consists of an intruder entering a building, either forced or not, with the intent to steal.
Theft is simply taking someone else’s property.
The crime posters around campus and email blasts may be causes, as well as the active role that campus safety has taken in freshman orientation in the past few years.
The off campus burglaries may have also made students more conscious of safety on campus, creating a heightened state of awareness from students living in residence halls and in campus owned buildings.
“I still would remind students, no matter where they live, whether it’s a fraternity or sorority or campus residence hall, to be aware,” said Banet.
The most effective way for students living off campus to protect themselves from burglary is to make their house a hard target.
Students should take a serious walk around their homes, checking for overgrown bushes near doors or windows that someone may be able to hide in, he said.
If they have front and back porch lights, they should leave these on all night.
Students should also make sure their doors are locked and consider installing a deadbolt.
A deadbolt has a longer throw than a traditional door lock, preventing the use of a crowbar to pry the door open.
“Simple things like that will help tremendously,” said Banet.
If students are confronted by a burglar in their home, the best thing to do is cooperate, he said.
If the person wants valuables, Banet advises students to give them up.
“The things that they’re going to take, a computer or an iPod, can always be replaced,” said Banet, “A person can’t, and we don’t want to see anyone injured.”
