Back to School (Home and Apartment) Safety Tips

Summer is nearly over! Most people realize this when they begin to notice the shorter days and the cooler weather. I recognize the end of summer when I observe the sharp increase of moving vans in my neighborhood — It's Back to School time in Boston, and eeeeek!!! The students are back!

The Allston-Brighton area of the city is notorious for its dense student population. Everyone who lives here year-round knows that when September arrives, the students return with all their stuff.

The criminals know it, too.

As a member of the Ringer Park Crime Watch, I've learned that break-ins and robberies in the area tend to happen more frequently when the students are in town, so I've decided to dedicate this month's safety blog to the subject of home and apartment safety. Whether you are a long-time resident or "seasonal guest" here in the city, these tips will help keep you safe!

Whenever you are moving, get people you know to help you, or get references from the people you hire. There are those out there who will move your stuff to locations other than your new place. Others may attempt robbery or assault once they have access to YOU inside your home.

In your home/apartment, always give the impression that someone is home. Good lighting is one of the least expensive and most effective deterrents to a break-in, because if an area is well-lit, a would-be criminal cannot enter a door or window unseen. Leave your porch light on at night, and consider leaving a light on in a room or hallway if you are out for the evening. If you rent, contact your landlord immediately if any common-area lights are not working.

Keep your doors and windows locked! This one bears repeating: KEEP YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS LOCKED! If you have a deadbolt, USE IT — especially at night. Never allow anyone into your building that you do not personally know and/or are not expecting. Meet guests at the door, and do not buzz in "the pizza guy" if you cannot see the entrance. Avoid taking a first-floor apartment, if you can.

If you rent, insist that your landlord change the locks when you move in — you never know how many copies of the keys to your home are out there. If your landlord refuses to change the locks, offer to change them yourself and deduct the cost from your rent.

Get to know your neighbors. You don't have to become best friends, but you should get a feel for who belongs in your building or neighborhood, and who does not. Don't hesitate to call 911 of something or someone looks suspicious. Trust your intuition!

Keep your valuables out of sight. I've heard too many stories of laptops disappearing when they were left on desks that were visible from street facing windows. If you get a new, expensive gadget — of watever size — throw away the box on garbage day. Setting the empty box outside your house for a few days is an announcement and invitation for a thief to come over to see what other neat stuff you own.

Some Quick Campus Safety Tips for Students

• Know the location and phone number of your campus police department


• Familiarize yourself with your school's campus shuttle schedule; use the school shuttle if you need to travel alone at night


• Identify emergency call boxes and safe areas on your campus


• Be careful using public transportation. All too often in Boston, a student is killed on the "T" becuase they weren't paying attention. This is tragic!

Final Notes

Okay, I live in Allston, the capitol city of college bars. Please please PLEASE don't walk home alone from a bar at 2:00am while intoxicated! Don't cut through alleys or parks in the middle of the night, either. Use your head!

Stay safe!

Sensei J.