Personal Safety

Insuring Personal Property
How can I prevent myself from being a victim of a crime?

University Student Housing provides several programs and services to maximize safety measures used in the residence halls. However, it is the responsibility of each member of the community and their guests to preserve the physical safety of the residence halls. This can be accomplished by being aware of your surroundings, reporting mischief or suspicious behavior, preventing the propping of doors, and not allowing other students to tailgate when entering the access card doors. Together, we can keep our campus safe.

Card Access System

The residence hall card access system is a computer-coordinated system that allows access to the residence halls at selected entrance doors. Residents use their university ID card instead of a key to unlock the door. Residents need only slide the ID card through the slot on the reader as illustrated on the reader. The light will indicate green when the ID card is valid, allowing the student access to that residence hall. Tampering with safety and security equipment is prohibited.

University Student Housing Facility Coordinators

The University Student Housing Facility Coordinators assist in facility services in and around university residence halls. This includes verification of building integrity, the suppression of theft, vandalism, illegal entry and other destructive acts through a highly visible patrol. Facility Coordinators also observe and report suspicious or illegal activities to the Texas Tech Police department.

ROOM SAFETY CHECKS

The university reserves the right to perform periodic maintenance and safety checks and to enter student rooms for specific policy violations or to confirm occupancy of assigned residents. Attempts will be made to have the checks scheduled when the resident is available. The decision to enter a room when the student is not present for purposes other than emergency or maintenance reasons will be made in each circumstance by the Director of Housing and Residence Life and/or designee. Room keys for specific rooms will be checked out to the resident only.

For the safety and security of the building and for maintenance purposes, staff will check all rooms before the Thanksgiving, semester and spring breaks. Policy violations found during these checks will be handled through the judicial process.

VIDEO CAMERAS

Video cameras are installed in the public areas of most of the residence halls to monitor activity and reduce vandalism. The appearance and safety of these public areas are enhanced with the use of cameras. Cameras are located in the main lobbies, game rooms, laundry rooms, elevators and elevator landings on the first floor. Tampering with safety and security equipment is prohibited.

SECURITY BULLETINS

Security Bulletins inform students of emergency and safety issues that arise on campus. Bulletins could include information regarding such things as recalled appliances, campus events, and events within the city of Lubbock. These bulletins are distributed by University Student Housing in collaboration with the Texas Tech University Police Department.

SECURITY IN THE RESIDENCE HALLS

Never prop your room or building door open, even if you will be gone for only a few minutes. Always lock doors, screens and windows to prevent uninvited access to your room. Police reports show that the majority of thefts and burglaries occur in rooms left unlocked.
Do not give anyone your ID or a key to your room.
Do not leave valuables in plain sight.
Register, engrave, mark and/or photograph all your valuables including bicycles, stereos, jewelry, vehicles, computers, etc.
Do not leave backpacks and other belongings unattended. Safeguard your books by writing your name on certain page numbers.
Never let strangers into your hall. This puts you and others at risk. Telephones are available in the lobbies for visitors to contact residents.
Do not go inside your residence hall room if you return and find that the door is ajar. Immediately notify the police and the residence hall staff.
Be aware of suspicious persons and activities. If you observe someone or something suspicious, notify the hall staff and the Texas Tech Police Department at 742-3931.

IS IT NECESSARY TO LOCK MY ROOM DOOR?

It is the residents' responsibility to protect their personal property. Residents should always carry their room key and lock their door every time they leave their room. Residents should always lock the door while sleeping. It would be very unlikely that someone would leave the door unlocked to his or her house or apartment. Residents should take the same precautions on campus as they would living at home.

Police reports show that the majority of thefts and burglaries occur in rooms left unlocked. Every year thefts occur when students leave their room unlocked and unattended for as little as 20 seconds. An unlocked door is an invitation for thieves.

Please report lost or missing keys immediately to the hall office. For security reasons, if a key is lost, the lock will be replaced and new keys issued to the residents.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Although reasonable precautions are taken to maintain adequate security, the university cannot guarantee the safety of, and does not assume any legal obligation to pay for injury to persons (including death) or loss of, or damage to items of personal property which occurs in its buildings or on its grounds prior to, during or subsequent to the period of the contract. The university shall assume no responsibility for the theft, destruction or loss of money, valuables or other personal property belonging to, or in the possession of, the student for any cause whatsoever, whether such losses occur in the student's room or hall. The student and his/her parent, guardian or other guarantor is encouraged to carry appropriate insurance to cover such losses. Renter's insurance is the responsibility and choice of the student.

Refunds are not made for missed meals due to special diets, religious activities, employment, or class schedule conflict. Mechanical, heating, air-conditioning, plumbing or electrical malfunctions are also not cause for refunds or adjustments in the established room rates.

In those instances where items are left in residence hall rooms after the owner has moved from the hall, or where the items are not marked as ownership, University Student Housing shall declare them abandoned and dispose of them accordingly.

INSURING PERSONAL PROPERTY

Residents are advised to insure their personal property against the theft or loss while living away from home. The university's insurance does not provide coverage for the personal belongings of residents; therefore the resident should determine the need for insurance and purchase coverage to protect them from potential financial loss due to damage or loss of property. Many homeowner policies cover student belongings while away from the home. Check with your insurance provider to see what types of coverage is available for you.

HOW CAN I PREVENT MYSELF FROM BEING A VICTIM OF CRIME?

Texas Tech University is perceived as a very safe environment; however, incidents can occur. Suspicious behavior, or a crime in progress, should be reported to the campus police immediately at 742-3931. In an emergency on campus, dial 9-911 to notify the Texas Tech Police Department.

The Texas Tech Police Department is located at 2901 Fourth Street. This department has an authorized strength of 48 commissioned police officers who are state licensed and certified police officers that patrol the campus 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In addition to the officers, there are 12 communication operators, 2 evidence technicians and 5 office staff.

SAFEGUARD YOUR CAR

Whether you leave your car for a minute or for several hours, close the windows, lock the doors and take the key.
Carry your registration with you. Don't leave any personal identification documents, keys or credit cards anywhere in the vehicle.
Keep packages or valuables in the trunk. If you leave anything in the car, make certain it is covered and out of sight.
Purchase stereo components that can be removed and placed in a more secure location after parking the car.

SAFEGUARD YOUR BICYCLE

To minimize your risk, consider the following suggestions:

Use the Best Lock. Campus police recommend a "C" clamp lock. Thieves are less likely to attempt to steal a bicycle secured with this type of lock. Several brands are available, some complete with an insurance policy.
Insurance. If you don't use a lock that includes an insurance policy, buy your own insurance.
Keep Proof of Purchase. Record the serial number, type and color of your bicycle. These items help with identification.
Report all Thefts. The Texas Tech University Police recover many bicycles that they are unable to return to the owner because the loss was never reported.
Register Your Bicycle with the Texas Tech Police Department. The Texas Tech Police Department records your name, address, serial number, and bicycle description and identifies your bicycle with a specific number. That number is on a sticker you affix to your bicycle. If your bicycle is lost or stolen, your chances of recovery are drastically improved if you have registered your bicycle.
Do not buy Bicycles in Suspicious Circumstances. If you are discovered in possession of a stolen bicycle you could face criminal charges. At the very least, the bicycle will be confiscated and you will not be reimbursed for the money you have spent.

REPORT HARASSING PHONE CALLS

Should a person receive harassing calls, he/she should follow these steps:

Don't Talk. A person who makes obscene or harassing phone calls is looking for an audience. Don't be that audience!!
Hang up. After hearing the first obscene word, hang up. Don't slam the receiver down. That's admitting the call bothers you. It also gives the caller the reaction he/she is looking for...knowing the call is disturbing to you. Hang up quietly! Again, you can control the situation. You can end any phone call by simply hanging up.
Note the Last Number Listed if you have on your phone. Cell phones automatically keep a log of calls. Before deleting the call information, be sure to write down the date, time, phone number and description of call or message to provide to the appropriate personnel.
Call the Police. Whenever you feel threatened, harassed or annoyed by a caller, contact the Texas Tech Police Department at 742-3931.
Contact the Residence Hall Staff. Have your phone number changed or unlisted.