Beware of flashlight

Photograph by Ari Weiner

This last winter, we had a miniature break-in at our house. I was in Bellingham for the weekend, but a man went into my roommate's bedroom while she was sleeping and gave her the scare of her life. As soon as she started screaming, he bolted. Since our doors were locked and there were no signs of forced entry, we still aren't sure how he got into the house to begin with. The next day the police came and all of the proper reports were written. Some policemen patrolled our area for a few weeks (which actually really helped us feel safe), but today the case remains "unsolved."

Moving away from campus, I knew I'd be leaving the safety bubble I'd gotten so used to, both with my parents and at school. I also heard rumors that the University Park neighborhood was notorious for burglaries, so I definitely had some initial fears. And as much as I thought I was ready and prepared, I really had no idea how to handle myself if something bad actually happened.

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

Right after our December fiasco, my dad drove down from Seattle and gave my roommates and I these alarm-buzzer-things. When you pull the cord, it makes an obnoxiously high-screeching noise that would hopefully surprise an intruder and make them flea. I also keep a heavy flashlight near my bed for physical protection (not to say that I'd be at all successful with it). As far as the safety of the house goes, our landlord was great and changed our locks with newer, sturdier deadbolts, and we put some wooden bars on our windows.

With all we've done, I have to wonder, do any of these precautions actually do anything? I mean, if a burglar wants to get in, I'm sure they could find a way, right? But I don't like the idea of being helpless. So I googled "Burglar Safety" and found some decent home safety tips. Most are about what to do when you're away on vacation, like having a neighbor pick up your mail and keep an eye on the house. But with all of this information, I think I've figured out some more basic, every day tips.

1.  If you have one, keep your porch light on throughout the night. Most burglars don't like it when people are home. Lights are a sign that say, "I'm here! Stay away!"
2. For a college kid with roommates, stay in communication about where everyone is. Get to know each others schedules. That way you'll know who should be home, and when a noise is a possible intruder. 

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

Of coarse, if a person can afford it, they should probably get some kind of fancy home security system. But for those of us who only scrape by on a college student's salary, it's the little things like sound alarms and flashlights that can make you feel secure.

So for the rest of you that live off campus, have you ever had a break-in? And what do you do to keep yourself and your home safe?