Crime has been on the rise in many places in America in recent years, and unfortunately West Michigan has not been immune. GVSU has had some recent incidents, and Grand Rapids has seen a wave of car thefts and break-ins in 2022 with the Kia boys trend on Tiktok encouraging even young kids to smash windows and steal Kias and Hyundais with a flash drive. At Meadows Crossing we encourage our residents to take their personal safety seriously and be aware of their surroundings to guard against crime. Here we will list some helpful tips to follow to keep yourself and your property safe.
Be Aware
Your safety is always important. While it may seem like a hassle, taking some necessary precautions to protect yourself will save you the time and money you’d have to spend replacing your car or a wallet.
Be aware of your surroundings and do not take unnecessary risks, whether that’s outside, on or off campus, in your apartment, or in your vehicle. This means paying attention to potential dangers and taking steps to protect yourself and others. Some ways you can do this are by:
- Staying alert. Keep your eyes open for any potential threats or hazards in your environment. Take off your headphones and put your phone away so you have all your senses around you.
- Staying in well-lit areas. If you are walking at night, stay in areas that are well lit to reduce the chances of an attack. Better yet, take advantage of Meadows Crossing’s Safe Walks if you have to travel in our community after dark. Our professional onsite security team will be happy to escort you to where you need to go.
- Staying in groups. This can help deter potential attackers.
- Trusting your instincts. If you think something feels off, trust your gut and be proactive.
- Carrying self-defense tools. Consider carrying a pepper spray, whistle, or a personal alarm to use in case of emergency.
To prevent your car from being broken into or stolen:
- Always lock your car doors, even if you are only away from your vehicle for a few minutes.
- Don’t leave valuable items in your car in plain sight. Thieves will take this as an invitation to do a smash and grab. Keep them in the trunk or under the seat.
- Use a steering wheel lock or a car alarm to deter thieves. For Kias and Hyundais, the steering wheel lock is the only really effective deterrent because it’s not quick or simple to disable.
- Park in well-lit and safer areas.
- Consider purchasing a vehicle tracking device. This can help law enforcement locate your car if it is stolen.
Guard Your Personal Safety
Finally, lock your apartment door. If you live on the first floor, remember to lock your windows as well. If you have to run a quick errand, don’t skip locking the door, and never leave it wide open. It’s very easy for someone to enter your apartment if you do. It may seem like a pain to take your keys with you all of the time, but taking chances isn’t prudent. You owe it to your roommates to keep them and their belongings safe as well.
Meadows Crossing takes the safety of our residents very seriously. If you have questions or concerns about your safety within our community, we are always open to hearing from you and will offer whatever assistance we can. While it’s unfortunate that we have to deal with crime and dishonest people, we have to do our part to make it harder for them to victimize people. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t take risks, and you will be much more likely to get through your time at GVSU without a problem.
