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As the semester kicks off and hundreds of new students join campus life, it’s a good time to revisit ways to stay safe and keep your belongings secure.

To support the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø community, the university police department has shared helpful reminders on protecting valuables—whether it’s your car, e-bike, phone, laptop or other personal items—both on campus and around the city.

Vehicle safety

Over the past several years, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø police have seen a significant spike in reports of motor vehicle theft, especially of Kia and Hyundai vehicles. 

Whether or not your vehicle is among these models, there are a few common actions you can take to help prevent theft:

• Get a free steering wheel lock, then use it as a physical and visual deterrent. Stop by the Public Safety headquarters (1689 E. 115th St.) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays to pick up a free wheel lock.
• Take your vehicle key with you; do not leave it in or on your vehicle.
• Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
• Park in well-lit areas, if possible.
• Don’t leave valuables in your vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside. If you must leave them in your vehicle, secure them in your trunk.
• If leaving your vehicle parked for an extended period of time, check on it often (if possible), or find a friend or colleague who can do so.
• Be aware of your surroundings when walking to and from your car.
• If you find your vehicle has been entered or damaged, contact ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Police Department immediately. 

Bike safety

Individuals should always register their bikes with ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø police; undergraduate students who do so will receive a free bike lock. Other tips for bike safety include:

• Secure your bicycle using a U-Lock. Cable locks can be cut easier than you think. A good-quality U-Lock is often unbreakable or requires a lot of time and effort to break. 
• Secure your frame and wheels. U-Locks can also be used to secure both your bicycle frame and wheels. If you cannot secure your wheels using a U-Lock, consider using a secondary cable.
• Always secure your bike to an outdoor bike rack or lock bikes in indoor bike rooms. Other objects may be easier to manipulate to free your bicycle.
• Register your bicycle with ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Division of Public Safety. By registering your bicycle, it makes stolen bicycles harder to sell and easier to recover. Individuals also can register with their local police department.
• Keep a photograph and serial number for your bicycle. This includes the registration number, if registered with your local police. This information will come in handy when reporting a stolen bicycle.

Those with e-bikes should ensure they have appropriate bike locks and keep e-bikes in safe, secure locations when not in use.

Personal safety

Keeping our community safe is of the utmost importance to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø police. If you ever experience an emergency, call 216.368.3333 immediately, or contact police through the Spartan Safe app or by using one of the 300 blue box phones and 40 blue light phones across campus. 

Here are a few tips to attempt to lessen the risk of becoming a victim of crime:

• Be aware of your surroundings. This means taking out your earbuds and keeping your phone in your pocket or bag—out of sight for both you and potential thieves.
• Walk in groups whenever possible—especially at night. Or if you need to walk alone, call a Safe Ride vehicle or a 24/7 walking escort.
• Sign up for training. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø police offer self-defense and active-aggressor-response classes, as well as crime prevention and safety presentations for departments, organizations or offices.
• Download the Spartan Safe app so you can contact police—or other important contacts—quickly, submit anonymous tips, ask a friend to track your walk to ensure you make it safely to your destination, and more.

Finally, be sure to to ensure your contact information is up to date. If an emergency occurs, the fastest, most effective way for ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø to contact you is via your text or push notification from the Spartan Safe app. Make sure your mobile phone number is listed, as well as any additional contact information points you need.

For more information on safety at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, visit case.edu/publicsafety.