U. Police give break safety tips

Because of the success of the vacation check program over winter break, University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said last night that his department has instituted the same program for the upcoming spring recess. The procedure allows off-campus students to register their properties with University Police officers, who will check the exteriors of the vacant buildings over break. Kuprevich said the program over winter break was "very effective." "We had about 220 properties listed with us over the winter recess, and not one of them was burglarized," he said. And the success of the program was "a significant difference" from past experience, Kuprevich added. In the past, off-campus residences were prone to burglaries over break. Kuprevich said burglary teams in the 18th district of the Philadelphia Police Department have also been notified and will pay extra attention to off-campus residencies. Gordon Rickards, assistant director of safety, security and facilities for Residential Living, said last night that beginning today, Residential Living will change the dormitory security system so that only residents of a given dormitory can enter that dorm. He added that Residential Living distributed a flyer earlier this week with safety tips to all students. "The security tips are the same at every break, but I think people should read [the flyer] and abide by it," he said. University Police Lieutenant Susan Holmes offered some other safety tips for students going away for break, including: ·Secure or remove all valuables and make sure all possible entrances to rooms or apartments are locked and bolted. ·Register your property with Public Safety for special checks during the break. For students remaining on campus during the break, Holmes offered these safety tips: ·If you are expecting guests, do not open the door until you know it is the right person. ·Know the locations of blue light emergency telephones. ·Report any suspicious persons or activities as soon as possible to University Police. Kuprevich said that because of the reduction in students both on and off campus over break, there is a higher potential for individual incidents of crime to occur. "We ask people to buddy up with other people," he said. "Don't stay alone and don't travel alone." Kuprevich added that University Police maintains a full staff over the spring recess. "Our officers are going to be out there in full strength," he said.