It’s that time of year again! As you prepare to leave Grounds for the upcoming holiday break and the eventual end of the semester, University Police want to remind you to take extra precautions when securing your personal belongings to minimize and prevent the risk of burglary or theft.
During holiday breaks, criminals often target student housing because students are most likely away from their apartments/homes. Over the past few years we have seen an increase of burglaries and package thefts during the winter holidays. We suggest following these safety tips from the UVA Department of Safety and Security:
Do not leave spare keys in a place that would be accessible to others.
Take valuable items, including medications, while you are away. If you cannot bring these items, lock them in a safe place. Do not leave valuable items in plain sight in your residence or vehicle.
Double-check that all doors and windows are locked, and that your blinds or curtains are closed.
Keep a secure record of the serial numbers for electronic items, such as televisions or gaming consoles, that will not be taken with you while you are away.
Unplug small appliances and electronics, including hair dryers, straighteners, and curling irons.
Arrange to have your mail temporarily held by the U.S. Postal Service.
Avoid having Amazon and other packages delivered while you are away. UPD saw a high rate of reported package thefts last winter break.
If possible, do not leave your bicycle or scooter outside when you are away for extended periods of time. Bicyclists should also lock their bikes to a designated bike rack with a high-quality U-lock, which is harder to cut than traditional cable locks.
We strongly suggest registering your bike or scooter in our online registration system for easier tracking. This gives us more information for recovery if they are lost or stolen. It may also be beneficial to conceal an Apple AirTag or a similar tracking device on your property.
For an extra layer of security, consider placing a small wireless home security camera (Ring camera) on your front door or inside your residence when you are not present.
If you would like University Police to complete an exterior perimeter check for you off-Grounds residence while you are away, you can register for this service here.
When you return to Charlottesville, immediately report any theft or suspicious incidents to the police.
As always, if you see something, say something. Please report suspicious activity to UPD by calling our non-emergency line at 434-924-7166 or by using the UVA Ready App (which is available to everyone (even parents) via their phone's mobile app store) and can provide direct, two-way communication with UPD through text.
Parents, Guardians, or the Public: if you are interested in receiving alerts about emergencies or incidents on or near campus, please make sure to register for the UVA Emergency Alert Notifications