Theft Prevention

If you leave it, you could lose it

Secure your valuables at all times — whether it is from a study space, your bike or your vehicle — personal thefts are the most reported crime on campuses across Canada. Learn what you can do to protect yourself and your belongings.

Personal belongings

• Thieves will take anything — most targeted items include laptops, tablets, cell phones, and backpacks.
• Never leave your belongings unattended — if you are going to grab a coffee or headed off for a washroom break or a quick stretch have a trusted friend watch your items. If you are studying alone, you should pack up your items and take them with you.
• Personalize your belongings (including electronic devices) so they are easily identifiable — bright colours, stickers or designs applied to your items make it harder for thieves to claim them as their own — it also lowers their resell value.
• Leave important documents at home/residence — don’t bring immigration papers, visas, passports, banking information, etc. to campus. The same goes for the gym or the pool.
• Don’t bring large amounts of cash to campus — all venues on campus and most in the city take electronic forms of payment.
• Be careful about showing the cash you do have in your wallet — thieves will often watch people on the bus, at the store, etc. and will target people to take as little as $20 — again, safer to use electronic forms of currency.
• Use the TRU SAFE app to report suspicious activity to security immediately.

Bikes

• Lock your bike in a designated, well-lit areas — TRU has a number of lockable cages installed inside our buildings as well as designated outdoor bike shelters. Information on bike spaces.
• Invest in a good lock — most cable locks can be easily cut. The Sustainability Office recommends the Kryptonite brand, which offers both U-shaped and chin-style locks.
• Lock up properly — having a great lock doesn’t help if you don’t use it right. The TRU Cycling page has a great video on how to lock your bike effectively.
• Register your bike with the RCMP’s Project 529 Garage, a community-powered bike recovery service. Registration is free!
• Remember to report any suspicious activity to campus security immediate using the TRU SAFE app (Get Help) or use the ‘Report A Concern’ button in the app to send photos/emails to security.

Offices

• Close and lock your office door even if you only expect to be away for a short period of time.
• Secure important and valuable objects — desk drawers with keys within easy access are not secure. Try not to bring very valuable or one of a kind items to campus.
• Keep window coverings closed at night so that nothing is visible from outside.

Vehicles

• Do not keep your spare keys or your garage door opener in the vehicle.
• Keep a ‘bare’ vehicle with nothing in sight — thieves will break a window to steal spare change. Electronics, tools, cash, change, sunglasses are most popular targets.
• If you must leave valuables in your vehicle store them in the trunk (or underneath a seat if you don’t have a trunk) BEFORE you arrive on campus. If you plan to stop somewhere on your way home, again, place your valuables in the truck before you leave so that potential thieves don’t see and target your vehicle as soon as you walk away.
• Use an anti-theft device, such as a steering wheel or ignition lock.
• ICBC has useful and timely information on their Lock out Auto Crime program.