With the return of students to college campuses, this is an opportunity to provide helpful tips to a population often seen as “target-rich” by property thieves. As part of the Property Crimes Reduction Strategies; the Crime Prevention Unit in partnership with the University of Oregon, the UO Police Department and many volunteers, Eugene Police Department will proactively focus efforts this week in areas of high student populations to help neighbors become “harder targets” against crime. The team’s main prevention focus will relate to burglaries, thefts from vehicles and thefts of laptops and bicycles.
Crime Prevention Tips:
Burglaries – The majority of burglaries in these areas occur during the day and where a door or window was left unsecured. Lock all doors and windows, even if you are home.
Car break-ins – Don’t leave ANYTHING visible in your unattended vehicle…no matter the value.
Laptops – Don’t ever leave your laptop unattended…libraries, coffee shops, and cars are common locations that laptop thefts occur.
Bicycles – Make sure to always lock your bike with a high quality lock and to register your bicycle, either with the UO Police Department (if you are a UO student or faculty member), or with the Eugene Police Department.
No different from any areas of high density populations, the Kinsrow/Commons area and other University neighborhoods often have high rates of property crime. The Eugene Police Crime Prevention Unit is hoping that a pre-emptive educational approach will help residents in these areas become “harder targets,” for criminals. Outreach events like this are important tools to help provide avenues to report suspicious behaviors and increase awareness of property crime issues.