The Rensselaer Department of Public Safety issued a Crime Alert today regarding a burglary that occurred in Blitman Residence Commons during the evening of November 20. A copy of the Crime Alert is attached. This alert indicates that the suspect is believed to have gained entry into the residence hall by “piggy backing” a resident using their Rensselaer identification card to access the building. It appears that the suspect was familiar with campus and the activities of Rensselaer students.

The safety and security of Rensselaer students is our paramount concern. Effective immediately we are taking additional precautionary measures to ensure the security of our student residence commons environments.

• We will be limiting access points to the Blitman Residence Commons to the front door and the East entrance only (the entrance closest to the Approach.) Upon departure from the building, individuals will be allowed to leave through all exits. In addition, Public Safety is in the process of conducting a review of all campus residence commons in order to determine if current access entry points should be limited. The Residence Commons Visitor Policy must be used to allow a non-resident visitor to visit a residence hall; http://reslife.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=185  

• In conjunction with Public Safety, Residence Life is going to start randomly checking student room doors in the residence commons to see if they are locked. If a door is found unlocked, we will leave a door hangar on the door to remind students to lock their room door. Residence Life will conduct a random check this weekend in one residence hall in each Commons and if the door is found unlocked, the Residence Life staff member will lock the door and leave a door hangar. Please remember that this is for your safety.

• Students should be carrying their Rensselaer Student ID at all times while on campus. In order to avoid the possibility of unintended individuals entering residence commons, Public Safety will be increasing its patrols around campus and tours of residence commons, and Public Safety Officers and Residence Life staff members will be conducting random checks to ensure that all individuals entering residence commons are carrying a valid Rensselaer ID. Students should also have their valid Rensselaer ID available to gain access to Rensselaer shuttle buses.

It is the responsibility of all of us to remain aware of the environment in which we live, and we remind all students of the following important safety precautions to not only enhance personal safety and security, but also to help avoid the possibility of theft.

• ALWAYS lock the door to your room. Even if you are just leaving for a minute to visit a friend down the hall, to pick up your pizza delivery, or just running to the laundry room. Most important, while you are sleeping, going to class, or going to the dining hall...ALWAYS LOCK YOUR DOOR. This is the best deterrent against theft. 

• Never loan your keys to anyone. Never give anyone access to your room when you are not there.

• Do not leave valuables, important identification, or documentation materials in plain sight within your room. It is always a good idea to keep important items locked away.

• Do not prop open exterior doors for any reason. Never prop open the door leading from the lobby area to the residences. When individuals leave a door open they are creating an opportunity for unauthorized entry.

• Report any suspicious individuals immediately. If necessary, do not hesitate to verify that an individual looking to come inside the building is a resident of that commons. When using your student identification card to gain access to your residence hall be alert to any other person who attempts to “piggyback or tailgate” on your access transaction and enter the residence commons without using their own access card.

• If someone tries to tailgate into the building behind you, politely let them know each individual entering the building needs to use their own swipe or be accompanied by their host.

• If you see someone in your residence commons that appears to not belong there, contact Public Safety at 6611 immediately.  DO NOT confront the person.

• Report a lost or stolen Rensselaer Student ID immediately to Public Safety.

• Call Boxes and Code Blue phones are available throughout the campus. The red button will dial the emergency number directly. Dialing 911 on a campus phone will connect directly to Public Safety, which is staffed 24/7.

Never take your safety for granted. There is nothing wrong with being cautious at all times. Public safety is a shared responsibility, “If you see something, say something.”

Communication, awareness, and prevention are essential for personal safety. At Rensselaer, we take a proactive approach to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all. The Department of Public Safety is located in the Public Safety Building on 15th Street, directly across from the Mueller Center.

Thank you for helping our community to prevent crime.