Police Give Advice For Break Security

Chapel Hill police spokeswoman Jane Cousins said police plan to increase officer patrols around surrounding neighborhoods.

Cousins added that the additional security measures aim to ward off potential criminal activity during the break.

"We recognize that the holiday season brings more crime and officers do all they can to up patrols and keep a heavier eye out on apartment complexes, Greek houses and other residences," Cousins said.

She said eight break-ins were reported while students were away in January 2001, up from five reports in January 2000.

While break-ins do become more common during the holiday break, some off-campus students say they are taking preventative measures to keep any intruders away.

Ellie Blake, a junior biology major who lives in a house on North Graham Street, said she and her roommates are planning to take several precautions, hoping to protect their house during the break.

In addition to leaving lights on and locking the doors, Blake said she is going to check up on the house periodically during the break.

"The two of us are going to try and come back once or twice to make sure the house is OK," she said.

But Art Englebardt, a Chapel Hill crime prevention officer, offered other tips that might help protect students' homes.

"The most important thing people can do is make other people think that someone is home," he said.

In addition to basic precautions such as locking doors and windows, Englebardt suggested buying lamp timers that can automatically turn lights off and on.

He also advised leaving a radio turned on and have it tuned to a talk station to make potential intruders think people are talking inside.

He encouraged students not to leave valuables or electronics in view of a window and said that laptop computers should always be taken home. Cars should be left completely empty.

"Don't leave anything in them," Englebardt said.

He also said students should try to let as few people as possible know that the house is empty.

"The fewer people that know you're gone, the better," he said.

Gita Madan, a sophomore biology major who lives in an apartment in Southern Village, said her building's security system will help prevent break-ins.

"We're going to lock the door, but no one can enter the building without punching a code in," she said.

Samuel Culberson, a senior psychology major, said he thinks the holiday break does put off-campus student residences more at risk for break-ins.

But Culberson said he is not worried because God has everything under control.

He said, "If something gets stolen, that person obviously needs the object more than I do."

The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.