Top tips to protect your valuables over the Christmas holiday

While both Brighton and Eastbourne are safe places to live and study, it helps to take extra precautions to protect yourselves and your valuables as we approach the Christmas break. The following tips will help you to stay safe over the holiday period.

Staying safe when going out

If you’re living in campus accommodation, be vigilant and follow the usual precautions. Make sure that you close and lock your doors and windows whenever you leave your room – even if it’s only for a few minutes – and never wedge doors open.

Keep an eye on your belongings when you’re in public spaces, too, and don’t leave them unattended even for a short while.

Keep your keys safe – never label them with your address or keep them in a bag that contains something with your address on it, and don’t allow anyone else to use them. If you do lose your keys, let the University know immediately by visiting your hall’s Reception or by contacting University of Brighton Security Services.

Don’t let anyone you don’t know into your residence. All University staff and contractors will carry identification – don’t be nervous about asking to see it.

If you encounter any problems, you can contact University of Brighton Security Services 24 hours a day, seven days a week:

• Control Room: 01273 641373
• Mobile: 07770 483187
• Emergency: 01273 642222

See our past post Safety on the street – advice on staying safe whilst out at night

Leaving for the holidays

If you are going away for the holiday, don’t advertise the fact on social media – it can be an open invitation to burglars. Likewise, be careful how you dispose of packaging; leaving boxes from expensive items clearly visible outside your accommodation advertises what could be inside.

If you’re traveling home by car, be careful when you’re packing up your belongings: if you have to make multiple trips to your vehicle, make sure that you don’t leave expensive items on view when it’s unattended and always lock it up carefully.

If something is stolen

Make sure that your contents insurance is up to date and that you know how to contact your provider.

Keep lists of the make, model and serial numbers of your electronic items to help police track them down if they are stolen, including any new items you receive as a gift. You can also register your items for free at www.immobilise.com, which improves the chances of getting them back if they are stolen.

If your phone is stolen, contact your network operator to prevent anyone else from using it.

Make sure that you have backed up important work from your computer so that, if the worst happens, your files will be saved. Use your Office 365 One Drive or your own cloud computing drive like Google Drive.

Cycle security tips

Secure your bike with a good quality D lock around the frame above the pedals, not on the cross tube, so that it’s harder for thieves to use battery-operated cutting tools, and fit the frame and wheels inside the lock if you can. Lock the bike as tight as possible to an immovable object such as a lamppost or railings in a well-lit and busy area.

Useful links and contacts

• Crimestoppers – you can report information 100% anonymously online or via the contact number 0800 555 111.
• Action Fraud – For cases of fraud, online or otherwise, please report this to Action Fraud online or via the contact number 0300 123 2040.

 

Photo by joey graham on Unsplash