The USC Department of Public Safety (DPS) has noticed an increase in residential burglaries occurring off campus at The Lorenzo Apartments located on the 300 block of Adams Boulevard. Burglars tend to target homes or apartments with unsecured doors and/or windows. Please review the tips below to avoid becoming the victim of a burglary.
General tips to protect your home:
• Always secure your doors and windows.
• Keep your room door closed, even when leaving for a short time or visiting a friend down the hall. It only takes a few seconds for someone to enter an unsecured room. Don’t leave doors propped open.
• Secure or hide your laptop computer when away from your room.
• Don’t let anyone into your building who you don’t know. Report incidents of “piggybacking” to DPS immediately. Piggybacking is when someone you don’t know follows you into your building. Often times, “piggybackers” stand by the building entrance waiting for someone to open a locked door.
• Report suspicious individuals or activity immediately to DPS at (213) 740-4321 (UPC) or (323) 442-1000 (HSC), or via the Trojan Mobile Safety App, LiveSafe. You also can call 911.
While you are away from your residence:
• If you are away for a long period of time, leave lights, a TV, or music on to give the illusion that you or your roommates are at home.
• Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy offer a variety of low-priced home security devices that can be controlled from your smartphone, such as Wi-Fi-ready light bulbs, home security cameras with a mobile app, and motion sensor alarms.
What about lighting?:
• Research has proven that brighter communities are safer communities. Criminals don’t want to be seen or heard. Make it uncomfortable for them!
• Turn your porch light on at dusk or use a light equipped with a dusk-to-dawn feature.
• If you are leaving and are planning to return after dark, make sure to turn your porch light on before you go.
• Talk to your landlord or building manager about any lights that aren’t working.
If you are in immediate DANGER, call the Los Angeles Police Department at 911 or the USC Department of Public Safety at (213) 740-4321.
USC Department of Public Safety Recommendations
- If you feel you may be in danger, immediately go to a safe location and report the crime to law enforcement . Call DPS emergency for UPC at (213) 740-4321, for HSC call (323) 442-1000, or call 911 for LAPD.
- If you observe a crime in progress, STAY CALM AND CALL DPS emergency for UPC at (213) 740-4321, for HSC call (323) 442-1000, or call 911 for LAPD. Do not attempt to apprehend any suspects or perpetrators of crime. Your personal safety and the safety of others around you should be your primary concern.
- Not every person you meet has good intentions. Be cautious of strangers and keep a safe distance. There is safety in numbers, so travel with friends.
- Avoid using cell phones or other technology while walking as criminals target distracted, inattentive individuals using them.
- Be a good witness: It is important to recall what you observed and provide as many details as possible to law enforcement such as: the sex, race, age, height, hair color, clothing, tattoos, scars of any suspects and a description of the make and model of any vehicle used in the crime and its license plate if possible.
- Do not attempt to apprehend any suspects or perpetrators of crime.
For other options to contact DPS, report crime, and ask for help, please visit USC DPS Report a Crime.
USC Transportation provides options to travel around USC including the Lyft Rides Program:
- Get a Ride : Lyft is available at HSC and UPC to cover shared rides. Lyft at UPC is open from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week (*on home football game days, the program begins 5 hours after scheduled kickoff). Lyft at HSC is open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Friday only. Please visit the USC Lyft page for more information.
- Verify your driver and car: Once you have requested a Lyft ride, you can view the driver’s rating. When your ride arrives, make sure the driver’s photo, license plate number, and vehicle description match. Never take a ride you did not request or get into a car that doesn’t match the details provided by the Lyft app.
- Go the extra mile: The Lyft app’s “share your ETA” function allows you to invite friends to see your trip in real-time. The app will draft a text message you can share with friends that includes your ETA and a link to a live map that allows them to track your trip. Too much effort? Call a friend and stay on the line while you’re in the car instead.
To receive more information from USC DPS, please register for TrojansAlert:
- TrojansAlert: Register for USC’s emergency notification system TrojansAlert t o allow university officials to contact you during an emergency by sending messages via text message and email. (Please note that students, staff and faculty automatically are signed up for TrojansAlerts.
For additional USC Resources, please visit USC Report & Response.
