By Connor Stahl
Chances are, if you have been a victim of a crime, you could have done something to prevent it.
The majority of crimes committed are crimes of opportunity. Either a culprit sees an opportunity and attacks, or he goes looking for the easiest target. The Scoop’s Connor Stahl interviewed Springfield Police Officer Michael Walker assigned to Drury’s campus.
Here are six suggestions on measures to take in order to lessen your chances of being a victim of a crime. Whether it’s property crime, personal crime, or cyber-crime, prevention will be a valuable tool in protecting yourself and your valuables.
1. Lock it up.
Burglary is the most common crime on campus. The National Center for Education Statistics states that over half of all campus crimes in 2013 were burglaries. The easiest way to lose your property is to leave it visible in an unlocked vehicle. In roughly five minutes, a pair of criminals can completely go through a parking lot and check for unlocked cars; About five cars will probably be left unlocked. People can easily lose their bikes if they don’t lock them up, as the criminal can ride off into the sunset.
2. Keep your antivirus software up to date.
According to PCMag, “Modern antivirus utilities handle Trojans, rootkits, spyware, adware, ransomware, and more.” Officer Walker described antivirus like a bike-lock for your laptop. It might be expensive, but spending the money to keep it up to date will help protect against the newest viruses. And there are often free antivirus softwares that are still serviceable available from major companies
3. Be social — make friends.
Suppose you see someone you don’t recognize hanging around campus. Officer Walker suggests approaching them (as long as you’re in public) and starting up a conversation with them. If he or she is a fellow student, you might make a new friend. If they aren’t supposed to be there, they will want to avoid any interaction and often will leave outright.
However, be cautious; Don’t put yourself at risk trying to interact with strangers. No one wins if you get hurt, so don’t put yourself at undue risk if you feel uncomfortable.
4. Don’t let strangers into your building.
Drury’s campus, like many other universities’, has electronic locks on the doors to their buildings in order to prevent unwanted entry. Fox Valley Fire & Safety said that “Electronic access cards are currently the most secure building option.” But the locks only work as long as no one opens the doors for outsiders. So this tip is simply: Don’t let anyone in if you don’t know them. This can put everyone and everything in the building at risk of crime.
5. Stay in a group.
Going out for drinks, going out to the movies, or even just walking across campus at night, it’s always more fun with friends. It’s always safer, too. Officer Walker emphasized a group’s ability to intimidate potential predators and provide back-up and protection for the individuals.
6. Be aware of your surroundings.
A recurring theme in interviews with Officer Walker and other police officers is the emphasis on situational awareness. Situational awareness can prevent many crimes. Keeping your head up, your earbuds out, and paying attention to the world around you will get you out of most dangerous situations before they even develop.
