Don’t Be a Victim of a Crime of Opportunity

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Atlanta, GA | Posted: December 7, 2012

Contact

Georgia Tech Crime Prevention
404-385-3346

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Summaries

Summary Sentence:

Final exams, holiday parties and winter break are all things members of the Georgia Tech community can expect in December. Unfortunately, the month also typically brings an increase in crimes of opportunity.

Full Summary:

Final exams, holiday parties and winter break are all things members of the Georgia Tech community can expect in December. Unfortunately, the month also typically brings an increase in crimes of opportunity.

Final exams, holiday parties and winter break are all things members of the Georgia Tech community can expect in December. Unfortunately, the month also typically brings an increase in crimes of opportunity. 

For example, a faculty member encountered an office creeper in his office earlier this week. Events such as these can often be avoided by securing office spaces when they are unattended. Likewise, avoid leaving valuables unattended in public spaces. 

Over the next week, if you’re around campus at odd hours preparing for finals or taking care of other year-end activities, remember to be aware of your surroundings, and “if you see something, say something.” Report suspicious behavior to the Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD) at 404-894-2500.    

In addition, if you haven’t registered for Jacket Guardian, take a moment to do so. Jacket Guardian enables cell phone users to make an emergency call directly to the GTPD, allowing the police to pinpoint a phone’s GPS location and access critical information about the registered user. It also features a timer that allows users to indicate the expected length of time to reach their specified destinations  — and sends an alert to the police if the timer expires.  

All information is secure and private until the system is activated. Sign up for the service here.  

The GTPD also offers the following safety tips: 

  • Register your valuables (including laptops, smart phones and tablets) with GTPD here. 
  • Activate location services on your devices when possible. 
  • Do not allow strangers to enter the premises.
  • Offer to make the telephone call for someone who has asked to use your phone for emergency purposes — instead of offering access to your residence and possessions.
  • Do not put your address anywhere that a stranger can gain easy access, such as a keychain or hang tag.
  • When possible, use ATM machines during the day. If you must do so at night, use an indoor or otherwise well-lit machine.
  • Avoid working or studying alone in a building at night. Have a friend available for emergencies.
  • Avoid using stairs in remote sections of a building.
  • Never prop doors open, even for a short time, especially fire doors.
  • Park in a well-lit area, near other vehicles, or in a high-traffic area.
  • In your vehicle, keep packages and valuables out of sight — either under a seat, in a glove box or in the trunk.
  • When leaving your vehicle, ensure your windows are rolled completely up and your doors are locked.

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Whistle

Categories
Institute and Campus
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Keywords
crime prevention, crimes, crimes of opportunity, Georgia Tech Police Department, GTPD, safety, winter break
Status
  • Created By: Amelia Pavlik
  • Workflow Status: Published
  • Created On: Dec 7, 2012 - 3:53am
  • Last Updated: Oct 7, 2016 - 11:13pm