Alerts and Notices
Public Safety Informational Awareness Bulletin
Tuesday, March 6, 2013
The University of Massachusetts Boston Department of Public Safety provides this informational awareness bulletin in an attempt to decrease the recent number of reported larcenies that have occurred within the university community.
Approximately seventy-percent of all reported complaints within our community are larceny complaints. Recently, the Department of Public Safety has observed a slight increase in larceny complaints consisting of thefts of mislaid or unattended property and thefts from student lockers. In most cases, these items were unattended and improperly secured items.
Serious consequences are associated with theft of personal items. Besides the loss of personal property, theft is also inconvenient and may result in the loss of things that are of substantial emotional and professional significance.
Unattended and improperly secured items put you at greater risk of theft, which can result in:
• Identify theft
• Loss of irreplaceable photos
• Loss of all of your phone contact numbers
• Loss of important work, such as a thesis or research analysis
Remember, before you walk away from your property: Like It, Lock It, Keep It.
Larceny Prevention Tips:
• Safely secure all personal property
• Never leave your purse, backpack, briefcase on desk, behind chair or unattendant
• Never walk away from your electronic devices; laptops, cell phones, Ipads, etc.
• Write identifying marks on your property
• Keep all serial numbers to your property in a safe place
• Do not display large amounts of currency
• Carry only what you need
The Department of Public Safety encourages our community partners to aid the police in the prevention and recovery of stolen property, we recommend that you keep an inventory list of your valuables. The list should include the name brands of your valuables, the serial numbers, and model numbers. This applies to cell phones, laptops, Ipads, etc. Bank account and credit card information should also be recorded. Keep this list in a locked area in your residence.
Please report anything suspicious to the University of Massachusetts Boston Department of Public Safety at 617.287.7780 or through the Department of Public Safety’s Confidential Witness Program at www.publicsafety.umb.edu Click on the link stating “confidential witness.”
