Miami Student

Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: Community

Media Credit: Lynzi McCaleb In an effort to protect housing in the city, the Oxford Police Department will expand its normal patrolling routes while students are away from campus.

As Miami University students and faculty load up on sunscreen and hit the slopes on vacation for spring break, police will increase patrol to protect the largely vacant city of Oxford next week.

Before any extended break, the Oxford Police Department (OPD) offers advice to students and staff to protect their private property from burglary and damage while the owner is out of town.

Sgt. Jim Squance said he urges students first to fill out a vacancy card at either the police station or online. For residents who fill out a form, OPD provides the free service of patrolling a house periodically throughout all shifts.

The vacancy card can be found at www.cityofoxford.org, under the police link called the "vacant house check form." OPD also asks anyone who does fill out a vacancy form to alert police when someone from the house returns, so OPD can take that house off the patrol list.

There have been reports of stolen property in the past, such as Miami senior Christopher Sale, who had a bike stolen from his residence at 100 S. College while he was out of town last Christmas break.

According to the police report, Sale told police that he had locked his bike to the porch rail before he left for break and when he returned, it was gone.

Squance pointed out that burglars watch for indicators like piles of mail and newspapers to verify that an owner is not around. He recommended that all mail and newspaper subscriptions be stopped to avoid incidence.

Miami University senior Ali McDavid lives on Withrow Street and will fly to Puerto Venturas, Mexico, with her housemates next week. McDavid said she and her housemates always fill out a vacancy form and stop mail when they leave Oxford.

"I don't want to worry about the house in Oxford while I'm on the beach, so it's a great peace of mind (OPD) offers," McDavid said.

There are also other precautions beside the routine locked windows and doors that students need to keep in mind before leaving Oxford, according to Squance.

Answering machine messages should not be changed to indicate that the owner is out of town, but instead remain the same as if he or she was still in town. Also furniture should be moved at least two feet away from heat sources, as it can be a fire hazard.

Squance said students and faculty should be mindful of leaving a dark vacant house.

"Outside lights should be on at night and interior lights on timers make it seem like someone is home," Squance said.

The Miami University Police Department (MUPD) will also patrol, conducting constant walk-throughs of all campus buildings, and focusing particularly on residence halls.

MUPD Sgt. Andrew Rosenberger said Miami police will continue its normal campus routes.

"We will continue vigilance around the city and campus to try and deter any criminal incidence," Rosenberger said.

Rosenberger recommends the same basic security precautions for students living on-campus: doors and windows locked, valuables removed and fire hazards limited.

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