The Columbia Police Department is urging everyone leaving for spring break to take steps to make their homes safer while they are away.
Police recommend locking all doors and windows, asking a friend or neighbor to keep an eye on the house and making it look as though someone is always home, according to a CPD news release.
According to the news release, many residents have an increased risk at becoming a burglary victim because they leave for vacation.
CPD also urges citizens remaining in the city over break to keep an eye out for suspicious activity. The release states that license plates and descriptions, as well as the last place the person was observed, are important details when reporting anything suspicious.
Neighborhoods and apartment complexes that cater largely to students also take measures to ensure safety.
Senior Joseph Day, who works for Campus View apartments, said the complex has security through Signal 88, which does patrols starting around 7:30 p.m.
“We do that year-round when the residents are here and whenever they are going on spring break or away for the summer,” Day said.
Day said he hasn’t heard of any burglaries in the complex for several years.
Aspen Heights, an apartment complex opening over the summer designed specifically for students, takes measures at its locations across the country and will implement these measures when it opens, said Stuart Watkins, Aspen Height’s public relations director.
Watkins said the community is gated, the entrance has 24-hour video surveillance and each home has a security system.
“The Aspen Heights team observes normal operating hours during spring break at each location, and the entry is under 24-hour surveillance,” Watkins said. “At many locations we work closely with local law enforcement to recommend increased patrol during the holiday seasons.”
Students are also working to make sure their homes or dorm rooms are safe over the break.
Sophomore Alyssa McKee lives at Campus View, and she said she and her roommates plan to lock all the doors when they leave for break. Mckee said she and her roommates have never had any problems and that she hasn’t heard of any burglaries at Campus View.
Freshman Daija Perry, who lives in North Hall, said some things were stolen from her room over winter break. Perry said her roommate returned to the room at the end of break and saw the door open. Perry said she is staying on campus over spring break because of work, but she also wants to make sure her things are safe.
According to the news release, CPD plans to use various methods in order to ensure safety over break, including plainclothes officers, as well as additional patrols in areas at higher risk of burglaries.