Penn Police conduct Thanksgiving checks

While many students return home for Thanksgiving, Penn Police and Allied Barton security officers will remain on campus to be on the lookout for criminal activity.

Police and security officers will inspect the exterior of registered student residences periodically over the break to make sure there aren’t any signs of criminal activity, according to Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush.

Penn Police Chief Mark Dorsey said if an officer notices anything suspicious, police will immediately notify the registered resident and take appropriate action.

The Division of Public Safety has been conducting holiday checks for over a decade, but this will be only the third year that students can register online.

The number of students registered for these special checks has increased significantly over the past few years because of online registration, Rush said.

The registration deadline for the Thanksgiving checks is Nov. 24.

Dorsey said the crime rates on campus over the holidays have remained relatively low in recent years because of the large presence of security officers and police that remains on campus.

Although Penn Police will be on the lookout for suspicious behavior over the holidays, Rush strongly suggests that students obtain timers for their residences so that their lights aren’t off the entire time they are away.

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