Safety Tips

You should:

• Always keep doors and windows closed and locked.
• Ask to see a company ID when utility or service people come to your door.
• Use a peephole to determine who is knocking before you open the door. If you are still unsure as to who is there, question the person through the door.
• Leave a light on when you are gone or purchase a utility timer that can turn lights on and off automatically in your absence.
• Have someone check your place when you are out of town, and have the post office hold your mail while you are gone. If you subscribe to newspapers, have those held as well.
• Check smoke detectors every month. If there is no smoke detector in your residence, ask your landlord to install one.
• Get a security system if necessary.
• Get to know your area. Know where not to walk, and where streets and alleys lead.
• Don’t walk alone after dark. Contact a friend or the U of M escort service at (612) 624-WALK (9255) to take you where you need to go. The Escort Service will assist U of M students who live off campus as well as on campus.
• Get to know someone in the immediate vicinity that you can call in case of an emergency.
• Purchase property insurance; it is not very expensive and may save you thousands of dollars if an accident or burglary happens.
• Never leave your keys outside your home under a doormat or in a place accessible to a stranger.
• If you lose your keys, work with the landlord to replace your locks immediately.
• Never leave notes on your door or messages on your answering machine indicating that you are away.
• When driving, keep your doors locked and park in well-lit areas.
• If you own a bicycle, register it with the University Police.
• In case of an emergency, call 911.

Some information reprinted with permission from the Gimme Shelter Guide, The Ohio State University, Off-Campus Student Services