[GW InfoMail] Winter Break Crime Prevention

Dear GW Community,

Thefts and other crimes increase during the holiday season. The safety and security of our community can be enhanced if we each do our part by constantly being aware of our surroundings and reporting suspicious activity, behavior or individuals to the GW Police Department at 202-994-6111.

For students preparing to leave campus for winter break, make sure you take valuables home, including laptops, cash, jewelry and electronics. Remember to double-check that your doors and windows in your room are locked before leaving. Also, you may want to store any larger items that are left behind either in a closet, under a bed or in a trunk.

Students staying on campus over winter break should continue to be aware of suspicious people in buildings and call the GW Police Department at 202-994-6111 to report unusual activity or individuals. Do not let others "tailgate" or follow you into your residence hall building. Remember to use the 4-Ride Safety Escort Service (202-994-RIDE) rather than walk alone at night. The Colonial Express shuttle bus, northern and southern routes, will be out of service from Dec. 22, 2012, until classes resume on Jan. 14, 2013, but 4-RIDE will continue to operate.

For faculty and staff, if you observe a suspicious person in your building or office, immediately call GWPD at 202-994-6111 or 202-994-6110 for non-emergency situations. Do not confront the person or let the suspicious person into locked buildings or offices.

Remember to ensure that all doors are securely closed behind you when entering or exiting your office and building if you are working before or after normal working hours or on the weekends, when the building is less occupied and you are more likely to be alone in your office or the building. You may also want to consider using a "buddy system" or notifying your supervisor or another colleague when you will be in the office during other than normal working hours. You may also call GWPD or our 4-Ride Safety Escort service (202-994-RIDE) if you wish to be escorted to an on campus parking facility or the Foggy Bottom Metro Station. 4-Ride service is available beginning at 7 p.m. every day.

Thank you and best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.

Sincerely,

Darrell Darnell
Senior Associate Vice President of Safety and Security
Kevin C. Hay
Chief of Police