The simple habit that prevents campus theft, according to NUPD
NUPD warns students not to leave belongings unattended and offers tips, device registration and free bike locks to prevent theft on campus.
Imagine this scenario: you’re at Snell Library, working on a class project. Your backpack is by your chair, your jacket hangs on the backrest and your laptop, notebooks, phone and pens are spread out on the table.
Then you need to refill your water bottle.
Do you leave your belongings where they are, or pack them up and take them with you, even if you’ll be right back?
For Allison Piantedosi, a lieutenant with Northeastern University Police Department (NUPD) and member of the Community Engagement Unit, the answer is clear. “Pretend you’re at the airport and don’t leave your things unattended,” she said.
Better safe than sorry
Northeastern’s Boston campus is generally safe, Piantedosi said, as are the university’s other campuses. While NUPD ensures safety on the Boston campus, private security companies and trained public safety staff handle security on other campuses, monitoring entrances and checking IDs, while emergencies and law enforcement authority are handled by local police departments.
Some buildings on the Boston campus like Snell Library require visitors to tap ID cards for access. But that doesn’t mean theft, which usually involves unattended electronics and bikes or scooters, can’t happen, she said.
“Can someone walk in behind someone? Could someone find a door that was left ajar?” “Yes,” Piantedosi said. “So is it totally secure? No.”
A lot of campus facilities are also open to the public.
In other cases, students may make the poor decision to steal something that doesn’t belong to them.
“We work with students — it’s a learning process,” Piantedosi said.
In that spirit, here are some things students can keep in mind to protect their property.
Register your electronics, bikes and scooters
NUPD offers registration for personal items such as electronics, bikes and scooters, which includes putting a special sticker on your item that links it to the owner in the department’s records.
While the stickers do not contain GPS trackers, Piantedosi said, they are difficult to remove and leave a permanent “stolen property” mark. If the item is recovered or turned in to another police department, the sticker can help identify the owner.
“Your information is kept at NUPD along with the information about your device so that we can link the two,” Piantedosi said.
Free locks for bikes and scooters
Bikes and scooters are often stolen when they are secured with cable locks or thin chains, Piantedosi said. Thicker U-locks are much harder to break because they typically require large bolt cutters or even grinding tools.
To help, NUPD has partnered with Kryptonite, a manufacturer of security locks. Students and staff can register their bikes or scooters with the department and receive a free Kryptonite U-lock along with a brief hands-on demonstration on how to use it.
For larger vehicles such as e-bikes that require more protection, the department also offers heavy-duty chain locks.
To request a lock, schedule an appointment with the Community Engagement Unit by emailing nupd-engagement@northeastern.edu.
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Use SafeZone
The SafeZone mobile application allows users to quickly contact NUPD on the Boston campus and emergency services and local police departments on Northeastern’s other U.S. campuses.
When people in Boston press an emergency button in the app, it sends a GPS location directly to NUPD officers.
“Our officers have cell phones in their patrol cruisers on them. The alarm will sound. They’ll see the GPS pinpoint of where you are located, and will go to that location immediately,” Piantedosi said. “That is another safe way to get a hold of us 24 hours and have your GPS located if you can’t talk, if you are scared.”
Dispatchers will also attempt calling the user for more information, but “You don’t have to answer — we are coming either way,” Piantedosi said.
The app cannot identify a specific floor inside a building, however. That is why talking to a dispatcher could be helpful.
What to do if you witness a theft
If you see someone taking something that doesn’t seem to belong to them, Piantedosi advises against confronting the person.
“If you confront someone, things can go sideways very quickly,” she said. You don’t know their abilities.”
Instead, call the NUPD emergency number — 617-373-3333 — , she says, which connects directly to dispatch 24/7.
“We are trained and have the tools to confront someone about something that they might be doing wrong,” she said.
When NUPD gets information about an alleged crime, they can review security camera footage and speak with witnesses.
“We can go look and investigate and try to find that person,” Piantedosi said. “It’s against the code of conduct for Northeastern students, but it’s also against the law.”
