Show Me How to stay safe on campus

September is campus safety month. The Daily Lobo sat down with UNMPD Operations Lieutenant Trace Peck to offer students advice about how to stay safe on campus and use the University’s safety resources.

Step 1
Keep track of belongings and be sure to lock your car and chain your bike.

Taking precautionary measures is one of the best ways to prevent theft. The best defense against theft is locking dorm rooms, cars and bikes. Be sure you have your backpack and purse, or any other belongings you carry, with you at all times and that they are closed properly. Personal belongings are most often stolen when the owner leaves them open or unattended.

If you bring your bike on campus, secure it with a U-lock. Unlike common cable locks, which are easily cut with wire cutters, U-locks are stronger and offer more protection. When using these locks, clasp the front wheel to the front of the frame, and then lock it on the bike rack.

Step 2
Report any crime you see

UNM is an open campus, so even people who aren’t associated with the University can come onto campus, making it difficult for UNMPD to keep track of who is coming onto campus every day. To stay safe, students should inform authorities of any crime that occurs so the University is aware of what happens when and can even track where crimes happen most often.

“If you see something, say something,” Peck said. “The UNM police face the problem of minimal staffing, so any help given by students is always major. We really need the eyes and ears of the students.”

Step 3
Be aware of your surroundings

Texting and driving is an obvious path to an accident of some sort, but texting and walking can be just as dangerous. Roads on and around campus are usually busy, so it’s best to pay attention while walking around to avoid accidents. It’s also important for students to take drivers into consideration, because traffic can easily get backed up when students do not allow cars to pass through.

“They (pedestrians) have the right of way,” Peck said. “But they need to be courteous.”

Step 4
Take advantage of safety services and don’t walk around alone at night

There’s safety in numbers, so if you’re on campus late at night, make sure you walk with someone else to avoid being targeted. If no one is available, UNM offers a wide variety of safety services, including police escorts who are available 24/7. Students can be escorted to and from anywhere on campus.

To request a police escort or to report any crime or concern, call the nonemergency UNMPD line at(505) 277-2241.

For more information about UNMPD, visit its website at police.unm.edu