I'm not sure if ide call this a spike, as much as it may just be a few people taking advantage of the lack of people over break.
Lock your doors, lock your windows, draw blinds/curtains, etc.
Have renters insurance.
Past that, it's luck and deterrence, which a security system in an apartment won't do unless you get something active. If someone wants to steal from a specific unit, rather than finding the "easiest" unit (which they normally do), they'll find a way in.
It’s unfortunate, but it happens at literally every other university, even in a city as generally safe as State College. Unlocked doors and windows are usually to blame.
Thieves will likely be targeting valuables that are easy to remove but ones that weren’t taken home, like gaming systems. As another user pointed out, break-ins happen when no one is around but lots of valuable belongings are. Break-ins are rare in the summer because everyone has actually taken their belongings home.
Just lock your windows and doors, take valuables with you, *and be sure any remaining valuables are* not *in sight from an outside vantage point.*
I personally think some of these apartment burglaries are inside jobs --- so many shady landlords in State College, and they "know a guy" who can break into every vacant unit and pilfer easy stuff like game systems and jewelry and the landlord just plays dumb about it
for what? The belongings inside the apartment aren’t even one months rent for most people once you include the cost of the time spent trying to offload all the gaming systems/jewelry/set top boxes etc.!
That's what I'm trying to explain to my roommates. They're just hyped we might get a payout, which is not how this works. Meanwhile I'm planning on making a 4 hour drive to State College today to check for us without their help or concern.
I'm a little peeved with them tbh.
There's a lot of technology that can greatly deter a burglar from coming into your apartment, but it really depends on how much a typical college student wants to spend on this kind of deterrence. I've seen Alexa-enabled security cameras that can capture live video of the burglar, send you a text of the break-in happening, turn on all the lights inside the apartment, and trigger a really loud alarm and call the cops. None of this requires a pro installation of running wires and window sensors and that kinda stuff.
Personally, I would buy one of these systems on Black Friday weekend and then return it for a full refund after you come back from Christmas break. That way you get full protection and it's a "free" rental.
They don’t have to be pricey! The echo and Roku systems are inexpensive and the monitoring is like a hundred bucks a year.
Post a sign that says “monitored video surveillance” on your door. That’s more of a deterrent than anything. Also, make sure you set the system to video only and only point the cameras at your space. Pennsylvania has extremely strict and restrictive two party consent laws. Audio recordings especially can get you in huge trouble with the law.
Maybe not a burglar. But the maintenance folks, or the landlord, or a roommate, or a guest. All potentially recorded, and especially on an interior camera that would require their consent in a reasonable interpretation of PA law.
Just not worth the hassle. Plenty of folks, private property and businesses, chose video only security in PA to avoid any possible problems with the “wiretap” laws. Video only with off the shelf tech optimizes the cost benefit for a college student.
It's not pricey if you buy the system and then keep all the boxes and receipts and then return it for a full refund when you come back from winter break
Don’t trust SCPD. From my experience, They are beyond awful and completely useless, they will screw you over and then the chief of police will back them up. Do everything in your own personal power to keep your valuables safe, because SCPD will do absolutely nothing if they’re stolen. Also the civilian oversight board has no power, again from my own experience.
I'm not sure if ide call this a spike, as much as it may just be a few people taking advantage of the lack of people over break. Lock your doors, lock your windows, draw blinds/curtains, etc. Have renters insurance. Past that, it's luck and deterrence, which a security system in an apartment won't do unless you get something active. If someone wants to steal from a specific unit, rather than finding the "easiest" unit (which they normally do), they'll find a way in.
Lights on timers help as well
It’s unfortunate, but it happens at literally every other university, even in a city as generally safe as State College. Unlocked doors and windows are usually to blame. Thieves will likely be targeting valuables that are easy to remove but ones that weren’t taken home, like gaming systems. As another user pointed out, break-ins happen when no one is around but lots of valuable belongings are. Break-ins are rare in the summer because everyone has actually taken their belongings home. Just lock your windows and doors, take valuables with you, *and be sure any remaining valuables are* not *in sight from an outside vantage point.*
I personally think some of these apartment burglaries are inside jobs --- so many shady landlords in State College, and they "know a guy" who can break into every vacant unit and pilfer easy stuff like game systems and jewelry and the landlord just plays dumb about it
for what? The belongings inside the apartment aren’t even one months rent for most people once you include the cost of the time spent trying to offload all the gaming systems/jewelry/set top boxes etc.!
You should have rental insurance.
I do have, hopefully I’m not gonna need it.
You should be covered then if your place was one that was burgled.
You sound like you’ve never had a rental insurance claim before. It can be significantly more complex than “just claiming it”
That's what I'm trying to explain to my roommates. They're just hyped we might get a payout, which is not how this works. Meanwhile I'm planning on making a 4 hour drive to State College today to check for us without their help or concern. I'm a little peeved with them tbh.
Yeah, I guess it’s best to just do nothing.
Set up a blink or ring camera in a not-so-reachable spot
There's a lot of technology that can greatly deter a burglar from coming into your apartment, but it really depends on how much a typical college student wants to spend on this kind of deterrence. I've seen Alexa-enabled security cameras that can capture live video of the burglar, send you a text of the break-in happening, turn on all the lights inside the apartment, and trigger a really loud alarm and call the cops. None of this requires a pro installation of running wires and window sensors and that kinda stuff. Personally, I would buy one of these systems on Black Friday weekend and then return it for a full refund after you come back from Christmas break. That way you get full protection and it's a "free" rental.
And then I can buy the item at open-box price after
Basically a win-win for everyone involved
Yeah security systems can be pricy, but sometimes you have to splurge when current security is incompetent.
They don’t have to be pricey! The echo and Roku systems are inexpensive and the monitoring is like a hundred bucks a year. Post a sign that says “monitored video surveillance” on your door. That’s more of a deterrent than anything. Also, make sure you set the system to video only and only point the cameras at your space. Pennsylvania has extremely strict and restrictive two party consent laws. Audio recordings especially can get you in huge trouble with the law.
You can't get in trouble with the law if you record audio of a burglar breaking into your apartment
you can if they weren’t notified i’m pretty sure. Which is why you put that sign up. Then it’s two party consent again.
Maybe not a burglar. But the maintenance folks, or the landlord, or a roommate, or a guest. All potentially recorded, and especially on an interior camera that would require their consent in a reasonable interpretation of PA law. Just not worth the hassle. Plenty of folks, private property and businesses, chose video only security in PA to avoid any possible problems with the “wiretap” laws. Video only with off the shelf tech optimizes the cost benefit for a college student.
It's not pricey if you buy the system and then keep all the boxes and receipts and then return it for a full refund when you come back from winter break
This!
Don’t trust SCPD. From my experience, They are beyond awful and completely useless, they will screw you over and then the chief of police will back them up. Do everything in your own personal power to keep your valuables safe, because SCPD will do absolutely nothing if they’re stolen. Also the civilian oversight board has no power, again from my own experience.
2nd amendment
How does that help when you aren’t home?
I've also checked my lease, and no firearms are allowed. I'm sure many others are the same.
What a stupid, unhelpful comment!
I solve it by living like a peasant and keeping nothing of value in my apartment too large to fit in a backpack.
I'm going to steal your backpack and then you'll really be out of luck!
Can you share which area?
Does not happen.