By the end of next week, students will be heading home for the holidays, leaving many apartments or homes in Tuscaloosa unattended for about three weeks.
Captain Greg Kosloff, public information officer for the Tuscaloosa Police Department, said students need to use common sense when they leave town.
"If you're securing your property, you're making it hard for someone to steal anything," Kosloff said.
Historically, he said the Tuscaloosa Police Department has seen an increase in residential burglaries when students are away from school because many people know what areas are mostly student housing and when students will not be in town.
If students are worried about their residences, Kosloff said they can call TPD at 349-2121 to request extra patrols around a residence, and the service is available year-round.
"They'll patrol around your residence as often as possible during each of the three shifts," Kosloff said.
The SGA Web site lists several precautions students can take to keep their homes or apartments safe during the break such as closing blinds and curtains, locking doors and windows, taking valuables home, leaving an inside light on and asking the post office to stop delivering mail.
"For many students this is the first time they've had to be the handymen and women in their own homes," SGA President R.B. Walker said. "So it's important to take these few safety precautions to make sure we come back to our homes the way we like them."
Kayla Bailey, a junior majoring in marketing, said she is a little worried about her apartment being broken into over the break because two apartments near hers have been broken into recently.
"After finals it's obvious when everyone has gone home because the parking lots get scarce, so people's places are more likely to be broken in to," Bailey said.
She said if she were a robber, she would definitely break in during Christmas break because that's the perfect time to do it, when very few people are around.
Holly Harwood, a senior majoring in elementary education, said she will shut her blinds and take home her laptop and anything else that is expensive or could easily be stolen.
"I used to live in a house on 15th Street and I worried then," she said. "But now it's better because I live in a gated apartment complex."
Anne Gumbert, a senior majoring in management, said she is a little concerned about break-ins while she is home over the break.
"That's a long time to be out of town, and a lot can happen," she said. "But I tell my neighbors when I'm going out of town, so if they hear anything going on in my apartment they can call the police."
Amy Green, a senior majoring in interior design, said she won't be going home for long, and she said she always worries during Christmas break.
"It's just stuff," she said. "I'd rather they break in when I'm not there than when I am there."
Green said she makes sure to lock her windows and takes home anything she would be upset to lose.
William Black, a sophomore majoring in chemistry, said he is not as worried about a possible break-in during the holiday break. He will not do anything different to protect his home over the break than while he is there.
"It doesn't bother me because I live in a nice neighborhood," he said. "I'll take my computer home and lock my doors."
Amanda Peterson contributed to this report.
Be the first to comment on this article!
Log in to be able to post comments.