Stay safe during January
Published on 3 January 13
While you're working hard on campus during January, make sure you keep yourself and your belongings safe by follow these simple tips.
January safety checklist- If you can, arrange to travel to and from campus with a friend, especially if you're in the library late at night. If you feel vulnerable, carry a personal attack alarm (you can get one free from the Students' Union). - Stick to the main roads where possible, they are more likely to have CCTV and these areas are normally well lit. Walk facing on-coming traffic. - Make use of the Students' Union safe taxi service, and the Student Safe Zone premises too. - Let friends and housemates know your plans - especially if you're planning to work late. - Keep valuables out of sight. This includes in the Library - don't leave laptops and mobiles lying around while you pop out for lunch. - If you’re transporting equipment to your accommodation from a car etc, make sure you lock your door between journeys unless you can see the entrance to your house/flat. - When travelling, try to carry laptops etc in a bag/case that doesn’t ‘shout’ computer in here. - If Santa did bring you lots of new expensive electronic gifts, be careful when disposing of the packaging. This is so you can avoid advertising that you’ve got lots of expensive ‘goodies’. Cycling safetyThe good news is that cycle crime figures are down by 38% on the same period last year (September – December) but it’s still important that you take action to avoid becoming a victim. Between the 14th of January and the 31st of January 2013 the price of the subsidised locks currently on offer at £15 (RRP £35) will be available for £10. The silver standard ‘D’ locks are a great deterrent to the thief. The reduction is being introduced to encourage those returning to study to invest in a good quality bike lock. Locks can be purchased via the online store. To qualify for a subsidised lock you need to have your bike registered on the University's free bike marking scheme. You can find out when and where you can get your bike marked for free, on campus, here. It's not just theft that can ruin your cycling. Staying visible on the roads is vital, especially after a long night in the Library. If you don't already own them, make sure you invest in a decent pair of bright lights - you can pick up a set of front and rear lights for less than £20. And with drivers reporting that hi-vis jackets are the thing they spot before anything else, grab yourself some reflective clothing. Even one of these attractive sashes will make you safer at night, and they can be properly hidden in your bag when you're off the bike. How to report crimePlease report any suspicious behaviour or people on campus to security on 0161 306 9966. Don’t worry about wasting security officers’ time, they would sooner come out to a false alarm than not get a call in the first place. If you are a victim of crime please report it to security on 0161 306 9966 or the Police on 101. If it’s an emergency and the crime has just happened, it’s 999. For more information regarding safety around campus, visit the Crime Reduction at the University of Manchester Facebook page or take a look at the Crime Reduction website for more guidance. |
The impression that all crimes occur during the hours of darkness is not always correct, there have been a number of crimes on campus during the day, usually involving mobile phones.This woman became an internet celebrity when an iPhone security app took a covert photo of her as she tried to unlock the stolen phone. Although it's not known whether the woman had stolen the phone or knew it had been stolen, it's a timely reminder of how easily your beloved technology can be lost or taken by an opportunist thief. Many new generation phones have security apps built in - here are some of the options to keep yours safe: Thief Face Trap Mini, Free, Android This free Android app takes a picture of would-be thieves and covertly sends it to the owner - although it requires a bit of fiddling to turn off notifications that might warn the thief - and can also send an SMS with its current location. The SMS function can be activated even if the phone's SIM card is changed. Find My iPhone, Free, iOS Apple's free security app doesn't take pictures of thieves, but can set off alarms, display warning messages on screen and remotely wipe devices. You can remotely switch a lost device into Lost Mode - which displays a contact number on screen, locks the handset with a PIN, and sends you a record of where it's been. GadgetTrak, From £2.49, iOS, PC, Mac The GadgetTrak app sends its owner updates with its location - and can be instructed to take photos of thieves using an iPhone or laptop's camera. The locator will work via wi-fi and phone network if GPS is turned off. Kaspersky Mobile Security Lite, Free, Android Kaspersky's security suite allows users to find their phone via GPS once it's stolen, then wipe its email, text and Calendar data remotely or block it from being used. The paid-for version of Kaspersky's app will even work if the thief has changed the SIM card. Norton Anti-Theft, Free (requires subscription), iOS, Android, PC Norton's security suite - for Android and iPhone - includes a 'sneak peek' feature that lets users covertly take pictures of someone who has stolen their phone or tablet. Gadgets will also send their owners their current location, along with a list of recent locations. |