Police offer fall break safety tips

While away from campus over fall break, most students do not think about taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their possessions they have left behind. So the Division of Public Safety is once again providing a "Special Checks of Residential Properties" service for faculty, staff and students who live off campus between the Schuylkill River and 43rd Street. According to Thomas Seamon, the managing director of Public Safety, University Police officers will periodically check the boundaries of each property for signs of suspicious activity between October 13 and 18. Those who wish to list their residence with the University Police Department for the Special Checks service can pick up an application at the University Police Headquarters at 3914 Locust Walk or the Victim Support/Crime Prevention office at 3927 Walnut Street. The application must be completed prior to the time the property will be vacant. The Department of Public Safety also suggests that students secure all their valuables, use timers on lights to give the appearance that someone is home and to double check that all exterior lighting is functioning. But for those who are remaining on campus, Victim Support and Special Services Director Maureen Rush encourages students to use the 10 automated teller machines located inside University buildings -- rather than in open areas -- and to use the Penn Escort Service when traveling at night. During the times that Escort is not in operation, students can call the University Police at 898-7297 for transportation. Students should also learn police emergency telephone numbers and know the locations of the blue light emergency phones on campus, Rush added. In an emergency, University Police can be contacted by dialing 511 from an on-campus extension or 573-3333 from an off-campus phone. Philadelphia Police can be reached by dialing 911 from off-campus phones.