But that's the first thing on the Department of Public Safety's mind. They offer a vacant house watch for students who would like extra security over the break and say that their service is extremely successful.,”

• The Department of Public Safety offers a vacant house watch service to students that want some extra security over break.
• Students can fill out a form and submit it to DPS before they leave for the break
• DPS Chief Larry Rickard assures students that a patrol officer will secure the participating houses at least 15 to 20 times a day, if not more.

Typically when students finish their last final and rush home for Christmas break, the last thing on their minds is someone breaking into their house over the holidays.

But that's the first thing on the minds of Department of Public Safety officers. DPS offers a vacant house watch for students requesting extra security after they leave campus in December. Even students living in apartments can ask that their specific unit be monitored.

Students who fill out a form and submit it to DPS before leaving can guarantee that a patrol officer will check on their residence at least 15 to 20 times per day, said DPS Chief Larry Rickard.

DPS officers drive past each participating residence at least twice per shift and check that doors are secured. Students can indicate on the form which lights will be left on and if there is an alarm system in the residence.

"If we drive by and see that there's a light on in the house and a student marked down that the lights will all be off, we'll immediately go in and check it out," Rickard said. "We effectively decrease the number of burglaries for students that use the house watch service. It's successful."

Michael Timberlake, a senior in the College of Communication, said his house on State Street has been broken into twice since he started living there, but neither instance was during a holiday break.

"This obviously isn't a good neighborhood, and you have to be especially careful when you leave for break because people will try to break in even when you're at home on the couch," Timberlake said.

Students who utilize the service say they can rest easy over break knowing their house is less susceptible to break-ins.

"I'm not worried about getting broken into over break," said Paul Hale, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences. "The back door to our house was open a few nights ago and DPS and (the Milwaukee Police Department) came by because they thought that someone had broken in. They're on top of it."

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