MACOMB, IL — It’s that time of year when, according to campus and local law enforcement officials, some individuals may choose to do their holiday “shopping” at the expense of others.
With the winter holiday break nearing, the Western Illinois University Office of Public Safety (OPS) and the Macomb Police Department (MPD) remind students and University employees to guard personal property by locking offices, desks and room doors, as well as their vehicles and homes off campus, when leaving, even for a few moments.
Members of the campus community are encouraged to complete an electronic device registration form recording the make, model and serial numbers of their electronic devices. The form should be retained by the owner in the event their electronic devices are lost or stolen. The information will assist in completing a report and entering the property in a nationwide database. The registration form is available at wiu.edu/vpas/public_safety/documents/ElectronicDeviceRegistrationF.pdf.
The Macomb Police Department and Office of Public Safety would like to remind individuals residing off campus who may be leaving town for the holidays of the following safety tips:
• Take your valuables home. Laptops, music players, video game systems and televisions are the most commonly stolen items over break.
• Avoid leaving items in plain view in vehicles.
• Don’t leave items (backpacks, purses, etc.) unattended.
• Make sure all doors and windows are locked.
• If leaving town for more than a few days, stop mail and newspaper delivery.
• Engrave your driver’s license number on those valuable items that cannot be taken home. Through MPD’s Operation ID, individuals can check out an engraver from the department (120 S. McArthur St.) from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, officers advise making a list of valuables, including the make, model, serial number or detailed description. Items with an engraved serial number are harder to sell/pawn, and a detailed description, including photos, may help police track down stolen items.
• Leave lights on in your residence and/or put them on a timer. If a residence looks like it is occupied, then a burglar may bypass it.
• Ask a trusted friend to periodically check on the residence.
The Macomb Police Department and the Office of Public Safety will provide extra patrol near campus during holiday breaks. To report suspicious activity or a burglary on campus, contact OPS at (309) 298-1949; off-campus residents should contact MPD at (309) 833-4505. For emergencies, dial 9-1-1.
***Report Courtesy of Western Illinois University***
