Bicycle theft

Your bike not only serves as your transportation, but it is

also your freedom and mobility in and around campus.

Thieves are generally interested in bicycles for the valuable

parts of the bike itself. Expensive equipment like brand

name gear shifts, brakes, derailers as well as speedometers

and lights can be sold "hot" by the thieves.

Protect your investment

Keeping your bicycle safe requires some forethought and

planning. Thefts most often occur when the object is an

easy target. A bit of planning on your part may not

guarantee that your bike or accessories won't be stolen but

by making your property a harder target it does reduce the

risk.

Lock up your Bicycle!

Purchase a good calibre U-Bolt lock to protect your bicycle.

Failure to lock it or using an inferior lock is an invitation to

bicycle thieves. U-Bolt locks seem to be the least targeted.

One lock is good, but consider two locks to deter theft.

Most bikes stolen are either not locked or locked with lower

cost cable or chain type locks.

Record the serial number, make, model; size, colour, number

of gears, and the value of the bicycle (keep your receipt)

Take a photograph of your bicycle.

Park and secure your bike in well travelled areas. The more

people around, the more likely a thief will pass on to an

easier target.

Use a good quality locking device, two if possible.

Make sure that the structure where you secure your bike is

in fact secure.

If your bike has saddlebags, don't leave items of value inside

them when parking your bike. Ensure valuable accessories

are securely fixed to the bike or removable so you can take

them with you.

PREVENTING THEFT OR BREAK-INS

Consider your environment. Is your building accessible to

persons after hours? Is your work area in an isolated part of

the building or is it close to an exit. Is it at ground level

with windows that are hidden from view? Next examine

three important factors in the security of your area:

Windows, Doors and locks.

Always lock your desk and office when you are away - even

for a minute and never leave purses and wallets in unlocked

desks at any time.

Always keep your windows locked.

Easily accessible windows create an additional risk.

Use window coverings to conceal the contents of your

office. Curtains, Blinds, Window films i.e. frosted.

Move valuable equipment to less visible locations.

Never leave valuables out in the open. It is an invitation!

Consider enhancing your window security by installing a

glass security film or pexi glass.

Maintain strict key control access in your department and

designate a person to administer your departments key

control program.

Do not prop open doors to anyone's area or building. Secure

those that you find open.

If the area contains expensive equipment or valuable

information, consider the strength of your door against being

forced open. Additional door and window security hardware

reduces the risk of forced entry.

Consider a plate that covers the striker plate. This prevents

the lock being pried open.

Deadbolts offer the best protection.

Report lost or stolen keys immediately.

Report suspicious behaviour to Campus Police immediately.

Some types of behaviour may include persons who you don't

recognize going from office to office; a person standing in

the corridor for long periods of time for no apparent reason;

a person or persons standing outside the offices near

closing time.

If a person has legitimate business in the area, he or she will

appreciate you asking if they are in need of assistance. If

not and if you are comfortable ask the person to leave or

contact Campus Police to deal with them.

Have all staff and faculty in the department be aware of

activity in the corridors or office space.

The community are the eyes and ears of the Campus Police.

Record the serial numbers of electronics in the area.

Securely mark the equipment; back-up all data and store it

securely; passwords protect your computers.

Consider alarms for areas such as computer labs or areas

with higher security requirements.

Avoid advertising long absences from your office.

At the end of the day the last person out should ensure the

space is secure.

Without serial numbers, descriptions and the value of

equipment, it becomes virtually impossible to trace and

recover when stolen.

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP POLICE

Report the theft immediately after they occur. Don't wait

before filing a theft report.

The scene of a break-in or theft can contain evidence. If you

discover items stolen or in disarray - STOP, leave the area

and call Campus Police. Do not let others into the space to

look around or touch things. If any evidence was left behind

it can become contaminated by those entering the area after

the fact.

Consider having the Campus Police perform a crime

prevention assessment of your area, and see if there is

something more that can be done to reduce your risk.

REDUCE YOUR VULNERABILITY

Be aware of your area.

Lock your office when unattended

Do not prop doors open.

Maintain an accurate inventory of all equipment, including

make, model and serial numbers.

Use authorized cable tie downs for computer equipment.

Keep your computer access confidential and regularly

change your password.

Regularly back up your data and keep it in a secure location.

Be aware of suspicious or unauthorized persons in your

area.

Challenge persons that don't belong with a simple "Can I

Help You".

Report suspicious activity to the Campus Police.

Last one out ensures the area is secure.

Utilize an intrusion alarm system for vulnerable

areas/valuable equipment.

Lock up your personal property while at work.

CASH SECURITY

Limit access to the cash compartment or safe.

Keep the keys to the cash in a secure location.

Prevent people from seeing the location of petty cash.

Money for deposit should not be held over the weekend

Do not advertise collections by leaving cash visible in jars

within the office.

PROTECTING YOUR COMPUTER

Theft of computer equipment is a serious problem that can

be reduced or even eliminated, when everyone works

together. In addition to the loss of thousands of dollars

invested in equipment is the loss of the data and the related

down time. This adds up whether you are a student, staff or

faculty. The loss of sensitive and confidential information

can and will likely have long term consequences.

Thefts happen in seconds the proverbial "blink of the eye"

THINGS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Thieves look for opportunity

Physically locking down your equipment to a fixed object in

your office or room makes it difficult to steal.

Purchase equipment that can be physically secured.

Portable equipment should have a "Kensington" lock

receptacle.

Thefts of opportunity happen in less than 30 seconds.

Never leave your room or office without locking the door,

regardless of how long you expect to be gone or how close

you are.

Never leave your stuff unattended in study carols, the library

or the Student Life Centre.

Empty cartons and old equipment left in the hallway or the

loading dock is an advertisement.

Equipment that can be traced is unattractive.

University equipment should be marked as such.

Private property can be marked with a unique number such

as a Driver's Licence number.

If a theft occurs Police need detailed information on make,

model, serial number and any other distinctive information.

If you are leaving valuables in a vehicle ensure they are

locked out of view in the trunk.

Check your personal insurance coverage to see if your dorm

or vehicle is insured.

The data on your computer may be more valuable than the

hardware. Personal and confidential information, research,

and expensive software are now in the hands of the thieves.

Prevent others from accessing the information through

passwords or software encryption.

Ensure that you backup regularly and test the backups to

ensure the information can be recovered. Store the backups

in a secure location, not with your computer.

Identity theft

PERSONAL INFORMATION IS VALUABLE

The security of your wallet and credit cards is in your hands.

You can do several things to ensure their safe keeping. The

following tips may help to prevent the loss or theft of your

wallet, credit cards and other valuable personal information.

Make sure that your credit card/debit card is returned after

each transaction.

Be wary of giving your credit card number over the phone or

computer.

Ensure duplicate and expired cards are destroyed i.e.: cut in

pieces.

Cross reference receipts with bills.

In the event of a lost or stolen card notify your bank

immediately.

Be aware of where your cards are at all times.

Do not leave your wallet, purse, or knapsack unattended

regardless of whether you are visiting the library, cafeteria,

campus bar, working in an office or a lab.

Never keep your PIN for banking or credit cards in your

wallet.

Carry only the ID you need.

Put other ID documents (SIN, Birth certificate, and passport)

in a safe place.

Shred documents with personal information

The Social Insurance Number is only for employment and tax

reporting.

Don't try, don’t buy and don’t reply to SPAM or Emails that

ask for banking information.

Install firewall, antivirus and security software and keep it

up to date.

Select a complex password of letters, numbers and symbols.

When disposing of hard drives, use overwrite software or

destroy the drive physically.

Ontario Governments site for Identity theft:

http://www.gov.on.ca/MGS/en/ConsProt/STEL02_045996.html

Ontario Governments page for Lost Wallets:

http://www.ontario.ca/en/life_events/wallet/004418