Always have a go-to emergency contact so you can call/text them in a pinch. It's a good idea to add "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in front of this person's name on your phone contact list in the event you are in an emergency situation so officials know who to call for assistance or information.
Take a self defense course. Your campus may provide one or know where to refer you for one.
Whenever you go out, make sure tell a friend or family member where you are going. In case of emergency someone will know where to find you.
To help avoid suspicious people, when walking to your car, always have your keys in hand and lock the door immediately upon entering.
If you feel unsafe or find yourself in an uncomfortable situation on campus, your school may provide protection services in which law enforcement officials will escort you to your dorm/building. Please visit the Resources page for more info.
A new nail polish to help with self-protection is currently being developed by 4 University of North Carolina Students. You can stir your drink with your finger and the polish changes colors when coming in contact with date rape drugs.
Burglary & Theft
As mentioned on The Facts page, theft and burglary are the most common campus crimes. To help combat theft, follow these tips:
Campus parking garages are a gold mine for thieves. Always lock your vehicle and hide/remove valuables
Keep doors and windows locked at your dorm, apartment, or home.
Be aware of your surroundings. If you carry a purse/bag, make sure it is held close to your body in a position that is not easy to grab. In a parking garage/lot, make sure the bag is not on the side of you facing the traffic path. A thief can quickly drive past you and grab it.
When going out of town or back home for the weekend, make it appear that your dorm (home) is not vacant. Leave on a low-energy use light and never advertise on social media you are away from your home. This is an open invitation for thieves.
Lose your laptop? Don't worry...
Some campus police departments offer personal property registration services to help retrieve lost or stolen property. This can be done by assigning a serial number to your laptop, tablet, camera, bicycle, etc. and saving it within secured state/national databases only accessible by law enforcement officers. If the property is found, it can easily be returned to you and is much easier than trying to track down the item with insufficient information or something that cannot be proven as yours.