ROBBERY PREVENTION TIPS FOR STUDENTS

By Mike Coates
Boundary Park Journal
September 19, 2013

"Back in my (student) day" the only thing that got stolen from students were lunches and the answers to an upcoming exam.

Today things are different. In my role as a BCIT marketing instructor I regularly observe students

walking around with the latest high tech smart phones, headphones, tablets and laptops in many instances worth thousands of dollars.

And it is not just college and university students who are in possession of expensive high tech gadgets. High school and even some elementary school students now carry expensive smart phones, headphones and tablets. It is a situation that could result in a personal robbery or theft if students are not vigilant or street smart.

The Surrey RCMP caution young people to remain vigilant at all times to minimize their risk of becoming a victim. Simple steps like trusting your instincts will help reduce the risk of being an easy target. Additional robbery prevention tips include:

• Always be aware of your environment and keep valuable possessions out of sight. Don’t be guilty of "wexting" – walking with your head down while texting
• Don’t listen to loud music with headphones while walking. This makes you an easy target for a thief. If possible, leave at least one ear free
• Be wary if a stranger asks you for the time or to borrow your phone – they may be planning to grab your phone as soon as you pull it out.
• Be discreet, be aware, and be safe.

Good advice for parents to pass on to their children.

Source: RCMP in Surrey http://surrey.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=79&languageId=1&contentId=31707