Moving into your own off-campus apartment comes with a lot more than freedom. You no longer have the same security and protection that you do on campus, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t feel safe. Being alone in your own apartment can be scary at times, but CL has three helpful tips to make you feel safe in your off-campus apartment.

Lock everything. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s the quickest and easiest thing you can do to feel safe. Make sure you lock your front door behind you when you get home at night and when you leave for class in the morning. If you have a lock on your personal bedroom door, be sure to lock that as well. If you’re prone to forgetting your keys, hide a spare that only you and your housemates know about in case of an emergency.

Don’t leave valuables out. In the wake of a recent robbery, this one sticks out as the most important to me. Before you leave your house, be sure to secure all your valuables. If you’re not taking your laptop or iPod with you, hide it or store it in a safe. No matter what neighborhood you live in, things happen and it’s better to protect yourself before you learn your lesson like I did.

Leave a light on. Whether you’re going to sleep for the night or heading home for the weekend and leaving the house empty, leave on your front porch light. If you don’t have a front porch light, leave on a light that can be seen from the street. This shows people you’re home and doesn’t give them any ideas.

Safety precautions are things that we don’t always want to think about, but they’re very important to know when living off-campus. Protecting yourself before something happens will ensure that nothing will happen.  For some more apartment safety tips, check out Kristen’s article: Apartment Essentials: Fire Safety.