Here are some tips to help them deter thefts.
After years of preparing teenagers for college, parents across the region have finally reached the hardest part: saying goodbye. While you prepare your children for this next chapter in their lives, The Insurance Center would like to alert families about the prevalence of campus thefts and share a few tips that can help your teen avoid a burglary.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are over 12,000 burglaries on college campuses every year. While most campuses have public safety offices that regularly communicate about campus thefts, many students do not actively heed the warnings from those offices. Campus police say the most stolen goods at schools are bicycles, tablets, computers, phones, and cars.
Many of those item may be protected by the parents’ homeowner’s insurance. However, parents can also call their insurance agent to extend their homeowners insurance policy to further protect the belongings of dorm-residing family members.
To prevent a burglary from happening, we offer the following simple tips that may help your student deter thefts.
Lock the Door
It may seem obvious, but locking the doors to your dorm room will prevent strangers from easily stealing your items. Roommates should also be informed about this precaution.
Secure and Hide Valuables
Thieves are always looking for easy things they can swipe and rarely have time to rummage through belongings. For this reason, college students should hide their electronics and mount electronics, like televisions, to deter would-be thieves.
Register your Belongings
Many schools have property registration programs that could help students retrieve their valuable items. Questions about those programs can be addressed directly by the school’s public safety office.
Don’t Leave Valuables Unattended in Public Areas
Students should treat the school’s library, cafeteria, or lounge as public areas where items could be stolen. It is important to keep an eye on your belongings when you are in these spaces.
Protect your Transportation
Bicycles are the most commonly stolen items on many college campuses so whenever possible they should be secured securely to designated bike racks. It is also important that students lock their car doors regardless of the circumstances.
Check your Insurance
Parents can help protect their students from loss by speaking with one of our experienced agents. Whether it is inquiring about renter’s insurance or checking whether kids are still covered under the family’s auto insurance policy, our agents can help policyholders determine whether additional insurance is needed.
As your son or daughter embarks on the next chapter of their life, The Insurance Center would like to remind parents that their kids may still need parental guidance and protection. To learn how you can protect your college-bound student during these memorable years, speak with one of our agents today.