Prevent theft over winter break

Theft is one of the most common crimes on the UW-Madison campus. As students head home for winter break, there are several easy steps you can take to decrease the risk of theft:

• Lock apartment and office doors and windows before leaving for the holidays.
• Burglars frequently target cash, compact discs, laptops, bikes, jewelry, video games, bikes, stereos and televisions. Don’t leave attractive items out in plain sight. If possible, store them in a locked drawer, closet or interior room. Or try to take small valuables with when you leave.
• Draw curtains and shades and set a timer for lamps.
• Temporarily stop mail and newspaper delivery.
• Let a landlord, property owner or co-worker know how long you'll be gone and how you can be reached in the event of a problem.
• Record serial numbers for expensive items, such as VCRs and bikes. Property can be also be engraved with a driver's license number. Engravers can be checked out at the central library branch. Victims are far more likely to recover stolen property if items are engraved.
• If you own a scooter, remember that it cannot be stored inside a university residence hall. Make sure to use an external locking device around a tire to prevent theft.
• To help prevent the risk of accidental fire, make sure to unplug large electrical appliances, including computers, stereos or microwaves.

For more information, click here.