September Safety Tip

The Penn State Harrisburg Office of Safety and Police Services is offering monthly safety tips for faculty, staff, and students.

With students back on campus, it’s time to remind everyone to secure personal property. Theft in college settings is the most common crime of opportunity because valuables such as I-pods, cell phones, laptop computers, textbooks, purses, and backpacks are many times left unattended.  Never leave these items available for the taking by leaving them on desks, study room, the floor in the library, tables at the food court, or office work stations.  Also, never leave these valuables in plain view in your vehicle and always lock your doors and close your windows. 

Police Services will put "You Could Have Been Ripped Off" notices on such items when seen during foot patrols. Keep in mind:  If an officer is able to put a notice on your personal property without you seeing, then a thief could have just as easily taken those items.  

If you have a bicycle on campus, please secure it to a bike rack whenever not being ridden.  Bike racks are located near all buildings and at every apartment building in The Capital Village housing area. 

Police Services offers a free engraving to help identify and document valuables as well as free bicycle registration. Please call Police Services if interested in these free services to deter theft and aid in recovery of stolen items.