USC is set to pause classes this year from Sunday, March 16 to Sunday, March 23 for the annual spring break. Students have been booking vacations near and far to escape the torment of midterms, the stress of summer job-hunting and to just relax. USC’s Department of Public Safety warns students to double-check certain safety measures for keeping their homes and belongings safe before they jet off.
In a dorm, apartment, or college house, simply leaving your belongings at home may be insufficient, according to DPS. According to its crime log, over this past winter break, there were 23 instances of theft and burglary. This means that when students were away for just a few weeks, their homes, belongings and vehicles remained at risk.
Before heading off for spring break, it’s essential to take a few key precautions to prevent theft around campus, according to Assistant Chief of DPS David Carlisle.
Protecting Against Home Invasions
Carlisle notes that students should make it seem as if someone is home in order to keep burglars away from unattended houses and apartment complexes.
“Turn a light on, maybe leave a radio on low, not enough to disturb the neighbors, but if someone’s standing at the door, they may hear a voice,” said Carlisle. “Burglars will look to burglarize places where it’s pretty clear no one’s home.”
Sophomore Sonya Cowan said, “I’ll definitely be locking the front door to my apartment and the one to my bedroom, so no one can get in without a key.” She lives in an apartment building about a half mile off campus.
Carlisle also says to delegate a trusted friend or neighbor, if they are staying nearby, to contact in case of an emergency.
Protecting Vehicles
It’s important to keep cars, bicycles and scooters locked up in a safe place, without leaving anything valuable in them, for the duration of your vacation.
If a student or faculty member does not have a private parking space to keep their car over break, USC DPS and Transportation have announced a free parking program, GIFT, or Group Initiative For Theft-prevention, at the University Park Campus Grand Avenue Parking Structure and the Health Sciences Campus Valley Parking Lot. GIFT will be available for the duration of spring break for those who have registered on the DPS website.
“DPS will patrol [the lots] at least 25 times a day to make sure students’ cars stay safe,” Carlisle said. “It’s a free service. Don’t leave your car parked on the street with valuables in view. Take it over there, and let DPS keep an eye out.”
Sophomore Nehal Sarwal has a parking spot in her apartment building but recognizes that DPS-protected parking is a beneficial resource for students.
“For the street parking around here, you have to pay per hour, mostly,” said Sarwal. I feel like that would be so helpful for people that don’t have a spot and couldn’t be refilling the parking meters when they’re gone.”