During the school year the Gonzaga campus is home to about 2000 students that live in University residential facilities. Keeping the residence halls safe requires attention to some particular security concerns:

• Close exterior doors behind you as you enter your hall. DO NOT allow anyone to enter who is not accompanied by another resident (Yes, even the pizza guy cannot enter unescorted)
• Escort your visitors to the exterior door when they leave
• Soliciting and sales are not allowed in the residence halls. Report solicitors you encounter to Campus Public Safety and Security at ext. 3222 and residence hall staff
• DO NOT prop exteriors door (even when it's hot) and unprop those that you find open
• If a door lock is broken, call ext. 5656 to report it. After hours and on weekends, call CPS&S at ext. 3222
• When answering a call from the front door phone don't forget to ask "Who's there?" Then decide if you want them in your room. If you aren't sure, offer to meet them in the lobby
• If you live on the ground floor or have a balcony keep your windows locked
• Be sure to lock your room door if you will be away, even for a minute. Locking it while you are sleeping is also a good idea

OFFICE SECURITY

Staff, faculty, work-study students and student organizations work in an office environment. This situation poses a special concern due to the high amount of traffic through buildings and offices. Opportunistic crime occurs when security awareness and crime prevention fall by the wayside.

The best plan is to be a good ambassador for your department and the University. If you see someone who appears lost, out of place, or loitering, approach and offer assistance with directions. If their business is legitimate, you have created a good impression. If it is not, you have put the person on notice that security awareness is a priority. You have also taken the opportunity to get a good description.

If the answer you get is hostile, evasive, or otherwise unsatisfactory, call CPS&S. If the person is clearly a threat to safety or property or is acting in a strange or bizarre fashion, avoid contact and call CPS&S at ext. 3222 immediately. Other tips for a safe office are below:

• Do not loan out office keys or allow them to be copied
• Keep your purse, wallet, or other valuables locked in a cabinet or drawer. Office thieves know the usual unlocked "hiding places"
• If your office will be unattended, even for just a minute, lock the door
• Record the description and serial numbers of office equipment- especially highly portable computer equipment
• Keep petty cash locked up at all times and make periodic checks of the amount
• Lock doors and close windows at the end of the working day
• Never prop exterior doors. Don't hold the door for anyone that you don't know
• Call Campus Public Safety and Security for an escort

GENERAL SECURITY AND SAFETY TIPS

• Walk with another person after dark or call ext. 3222 for an escort
• Be aware of your surroundings and any signs that something is amiss or out of place
• Stay in well lighted areas and walk away from alleys, dark corners and bushes whenever possible
• Don't carry credit cards or large sums of money
• Purses are an attractive target for thieves...don't carry one if it isn't necessary
• Lock your valuables securely, even in your room
• Mark your property for quick identification. Engravers may be borrowed from the Crime Prevention office
• Do not risk injury if someone attempts to forcibly take your wallet, purse, or personal belongings
• Carry a whistle and use it if you feel threatened
• Don't attach your I.D. to your keys or mark your key chain with your name and address
• If University keys are lost or stolen, notify CPS&S immediately, as well as Residence Hall staff (employees should notify their supervisor)
• Get to know your neighbors and share information about suspicious activities

AUTO SECURITY AND SAFETY

Auto theft is a growing problem and the campus area is not immune. Take action to safeguard your vehicle:

• Lock all doors while driving and after parking
• Help secure your vehicle against theft or burglary with an electronic alarm
• Keep a copy of your registration, insurance, and title in a safe place separate from your vehicle
• Store valuables out of sight or locked in the trunk
• If you don't use your car regularly, check on it every day or two
• Immediately report all thefts, as well as suspicious activity in parking lots and near parked cars, to CPS&S at ext. 3222

IDENTITY THEFT

Identity theft effects on average between 2 and 3 million people a year. Identity theft occurs when personal information has been compromised and used to commit fraud or theft. During the course of the day, there are many occasions when checks are written, purchases are made with credit cards, and information is received or sent through the mail. These normal transactions can result in the theft of a person's identity. Minimize the risk by managing credit information carefully and responsibly.

• Don't leave credit information in a vehicle
• Check your credit report once a year with a credit bureau
• Shred voided checks, unused deposit/withdrawal slips
• Keep number of credit cards to a minimum
• If you keep a receipt black out the account number

If you become a victim or suspect you might be contact CPS&S immediately for assistance.

For further information on identity theft and prevention please see our page.