Residential Security

Click here
for a poster on Apartment Safety
that can be printed to 8 1/2” x 11” paper.

Always lock your doors and windows in your room, apartment or house. A significant percentage of thefts on campus occur in unlocked residence hall rooms, when the occupant has stepped out for “only a minute.” Trespassing or assault incidents that have occurred at off-campus residences almost always have occurred when the residences were unlocked. Hide cash, valuables, etc. in an out-of-the-way location known only to you. When you leave your room, house, apartment, etc., close the shades and leave a light and radio on in your absence to give the impression the residence is occupied. Place a rider on your homeowner’s insurance to cover all items of value you bring to the University. For a small fee, you can protect yourself against major losses. Never open the door for strangers and never, never prop doors open. It is not just your safety, but the safety of the entire building that you put in harms way. Learn your evacuation routes and emergency plans.

When you have a situation (trespasser, theft, damage, etc.) in your campus or off-campus residence (room, apartment, etc.), immediately call the WVU Police Department (on campus 3-2677) or the local police (off campus 911). Even if it turns out to be a false alarm, it is better to be safe than to become a victim of crime.

The WVU Police Department conducts Operation I.D. for all students and staff. We will assist you with engraving all of your valuables at your on-campus residence or office, record the serial numbers of all valuable equipment—bicycle, stereo, computer, microwave, etc., and advise you on keeping these in a safe place.

WVU Police Officers are available to conduct Security Surveys for staff and students at their campus offices and residences and to show them how to best secure their areas (lock doors and windows, alarms, etc.).

If you receive a harassing or obscene telephone call, hang up immediately! The caller is seeking gratification. If the calls persist, notify the WVU Police Department immediately and advise the caller that you have notified the authorities. Maintain a log of all calls by date and time. We may be able to trace the calls. Also, check and determine if you can use the *69 feature on your phone. This feature is not available on all campus phones, but for those having the feature, we can obtain the phone number placing the calls.

Harassing emails should also be reported. Please do not delete them before our investigators have advised you to do so.

Our Community Policing staff offers an educational program entitled “Jeopardy” each semester in our resident halls. The program is based upon the television show and provides an entertaining way to learn about the law and crime prevention techniques. Prizes are also awarded. For information and scheduling, see your RA or call us at 3-COPS. Leave a message for Lt. Robin Levelle or Sgt. Hoxter.

Our Training Unit and the Community Policing staff offers a program entitled P.R.O.T.E.C.T. that provides females with proactive skills to avoid assaults and to respond to threatening situations. We also offer a program entitled I.M.P.A.C.T. that provides similar training for men. For information or scheduling, call 3-3136 and speak with Curtis White.