MUPD, CPD prepare for spring break
The MUPD Web site provides tips to prevent burglary.
Published March 23, 2010
Law enforcement agencies are working to deter crime over spring break.
MU Police Department Capt. Brian Weimer said students could expect a mass e-mail Wednesday with crime prevention tips for spring break. The information is also available on the department's Web site.
"Our operations will continue as usual," Weimer said of the break.
Some tips on the Web site include stowing valuable items out of sight and locking doors and windows. Moving bicycles indoors and having someone in town check on your residence might also help prevent theft.
The Web site also offers tips for safe travel over break.
The Columbia Police Department has also been gearing up for the approaching break, a department news release stated. CPD will be focusing on preventing burglaries instead of taking burglary reports after the fact.
These preventative measures come after the 2009-2010 winter break when there were 21 burglaries in student housing areas on Christmas Eve.
CPD is partnering with MUPD and Greek Life in order to reach out to students, the release stated.
Most student housing is in an area supervised by CPD Lt. Brian Richenberger. According to the release, Richenberger has made burglaries one of the top priorities for his area of town.
CPD has made burglary prevention tips and a form people can use to record information about valuables and their serial numbers available on its Web site. Residents can visit the department's Web site and request a "watch in passing" at their residence, the news release stated.
The department also hosted an "engraving day" March 16, the release stated. Residents could bring valuables and have them engraved for free, as well as receive crime prevention information.
CPD spokeswoman Jessie Haden said she didn't know the exact turnout for the event but not a lot of people came to have their items engraved. She said the department is not discouraged because it's the first time CPD has held an event like that.
"We're definitely going to do it again," Haden said. "Next time, we'll probably have it in the parking lot of a large apartment complex. They're thinking about having one on Old 63 South and another near or on campus."
According to the news release, marked patrol cars and unmarked patrol cars will be looking out for suspicious activity.
"We are authorizing a couple uniformed officers to be on patrol dedicated to that specifically," Haden said. "They won't get called away."
Haden said those officers will be focused predominately in areas with a high student population but will also be present in other parts of the city.
"The bad guys know our student population leaves during the holiday season," Haden said.