Think about your morning routine: rolling out of bed, getting dressed, grabbing your morning coffee and heading to class or work. Is your personal safety top-of-mind? Probably not.
That’s why Dalhousie Security and Halifax Regional Police (HRP) have partnered with Coburg Coffee to help make crime prevention as much a part of your daily routine as your morning cup of joe.
In a collaborative effort to increase community safety and awareness, Coburg Coffee’s cardboard coffee sleeves will feature one of three crime-prevention tips aimed at changing people’s behaviour to decrease break-and-enters, thefts from motor vehicles and liquor-related offenses.
“It’s important to get people thinking about the role that they play in their own personal safety and crime prevention, on and off campus” says Jacob MacIsaac, Dalhousie’s community safety officer. “We encourage students, faculty and staff to be vigilant when it comes to safety around themselves, their property, and their identity. If you see something, say something.”
To launch the initiative, staff from Dal Security and HRP worked the Coburg Coffee counter, handing out hot beverages to patrons.
The university works closely with HRP on several initiatives including HRP’s Operation Fall Back and Dalhousie’s Designated Police Patrol. Now in their seventh year, the programs ensure a dedicated police presence in the neighbourhood surrounding Dalhousie on weekends from September through November, as well as key dates including Munro Day and St. Patrick’s Day. Both patrols respond to issues and concerns in the area surrounding Dal and are aimed at increasing safety in the community.
The launch of the sleeves showcasing crime prevention messages is just one of the many approaches that Dalhousie uses to promote awareness and safety precaution to its students and the community at large. This fall, Dalhousie Security Services launched the “You’ll Want to Know” safety campaign to remind the university community to “protect yourself, protect your identity, protect your stuff.”
It also promoted the many services available on campus including free women’s self-defense courses, free access to the Tiger Patrol shuttle service, the Dal Alert emergency text messaging system, and a dedicated Security Services emergency number (494-4109).
Students say they appreciate the reminders about staying safe.
“[We] should be aware and take advantage of the security services that their school has to offer,” says Devon McInerney, a third-year commerce student at Dal.” Even if you’re unsure about something, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.”
Stay connected, stay safe
• Follow Dalhousie Security on Twitter.
• Subscribe to DalAlert
• In an emergency on campus, call 494-4109.