Rachael Pocklington
Communications Officer, Parents Program

This year we have seen an overall decrease in the crime rate on the Georgia Tech campus. Contrary to what we have been led to believe on the news, we have actually only had five robbery incidents on campus this year as compared to 12 incidents in 2008. However, we continue to see reports of theft from vehicles and buildings of items left unattended. While GPS and car stereo thefts always make the list of reported crime, there has been a decrease in motor vehicle theft. “The equation is quite easy to understand,” said Officer Ian Mayberry of the Georgia Tech Police Department. ”Tech students love portable gadgets and thieves love gadgets because they are easy to turn into cash. This makes our students especially vulnerable.” Mayberry also noted that they have found that on-campus criminal are often “employed” by outsiders looking to make a big bucks off of students.

“Common sense can prevent a lot of these crimes,” he said. “Lock your car doors and keep valuables like your GPS and car stereo out of sight. Don’t walk away from your computer in the library. Students should register their bikes and laptops for FREE with the Georgia Tech Police Department. We also recommend that students purchase a U-lock which can purchased for about $30 - a great investment in protecting a bike that costs several hundred dollars."

During the upcoming holiday breaks, Mayberry stressed the importance of securing your valuables. “While we don’t receive a lot of calls during this period because students are typically off campus. Students return to find that their belongings have been stolen. At that point, there is not much that can be done.”

Parents and stduents are encouraged to frequently visit the Georgia Tech Police Web site www.police.gatech.edu. More information on crime prevention including how to sign up for crime alerts can be found on the Crime Information Web site. You may also download the Georgia Tech Police Crime Awareness Brochure for quick access to helpful information.