We’ve recently had a rise in phone thefts on campus so we wanted to remind you of some quick and easy safety tips to look after yourself and your belongings.
- The best way to keep your phone safe is to keep it in zipped away in your bag or pocket. Try not to leave your phone out and visible to potential theft. This includes in the library, when you’re out and about on campus and around the city.
- Stay alert! Thieves use distraction techniques, like asking you for directions or engaging you in conversation, to get your attention and then distract you from your phone. Stay alert and put your phone away if you’re approached by someone you don’t know.
- Try not to walk and scroll as it makes it easy for thieves on bikes to grab your phone whilst you’re walking. Instead, keep your phone in your pocket and move to the side if you need to check it. A few extra minutes might save you a lot of hassle in the future!
- Similarly, avoid wearing noise cancelling headphones or listening to loud music as this makes you less aware of your surroundings. Instead, keep the volume to a level where you can hear what’s going on around you so you can spot any potential danger.
- Lastly, report suspicious behaviour via the SafeZone app. This helps us respond to potential crime and keep our campus as safe as we can.
Download SafeZone
We recommend that all University of Manchester students have SafeZone on their phones to help keep yourself safe and report any suspicious behaviour. The app can be used to quickly connect you with our Campus Support and Security team if you feel unsafe, need immediate help or require first aid or wellbeing assistance. The app is free to download, easy to use, and operates across not just on our campus and accommodation areas, but also MMU and Salford campuses.
This month, our University won a Community Engagement award for the Campus Support and Security team’s work of engaging students with SafeZone. They were particularly impressed with the use of SafeZone to support vulnerable students and staff in collaboration with the Advice and Response team. We’d like to say a huge thanks and well done to the team for keeping our community safe. Learn more about the team’s award win.
We really encourage all students to download and make the most of this brilliant app. Find out more about SafeZone.