The highest percentage of criminal incidents that occur on the Medical University campus involve theft. Whether it is a few dollars taken from a desk drawer or a laptop computer valued at thousands of dollars, being victimized by a thief can cause a lot of anger and frustration.

Fortunately, there is much that can be done to help minimize the chances of you becoming a victim.

Eliminate the opportunity.

The most effective method of preventing theft is eliminating the opportunity. If doors are locked and valuables secured in a safe place, theft will most likely not occur.

The first and most important rule in regards to the protection of personal property is: lock it up or run the risk of losing it.

Valuable items: Jewelry, cash money, important documents, anything of value should be kept in a safe place under lock and key. If you value it, lock it up.

Doors: The best defense against theft or vandalism is a locked door. Justice Department surveys indicate that of those serving time for crimes such as theft or burglary, the majority looked for the easy target.

Bicycles: The problem concerning theft of bicycles is most prevelant on college campuses. Most of the time it is extremely difficult to catch the bicycle thief and recover the stolen bicycle. However, there are many things that can be done to prevent your bicycle from being stolen.

• Register the bicycle with the Department of Public Safety and/or your local law enforcement agency. This is a very inexpensive ($1) and effective deterrent.
• Use a good quality lock. The MUSC Department of Public Safety recommends a "U-Bolt" style lock. In the past we have seen that the majority of the bicycles stolen on campus were either not locked up or locked using a cable or chain lock.

Automobiles: Keep all items locked in the trunk or out of sight. Thieves that break into cars target vehicles that contain items such as personal bags or cellular phones.

Engrave all items such as stereo and computer equipment. Tracing and recovery of stolen property is more likely if items are engraved. Engravers are available through the MUSC Dept. of Public Safety.

Always keep your cash, checkbook, credit cards, bank statements, PIN number out of sight in a secure place.

Make an itemized list of all personal property. Write down serial numbers and a brief description of the article. The list is extremely helpful to law enforcement officials if you become the victim of theft or burglary.

Report lost or stolen items immediately.

Never enter your house or office if you suspect a burglary. Don’t run the risk of entering while the intruder is still present. Contact the proper law enforcement agency and await their arrival.