Crime Prevention Advice – Campus Watch

On this month’s Crimecall, Sergeant John Fitzpatrick was in studio and provided Crime Prevention information in relation to Campus Watch.

The Garda Campus Watch Programme is part of the Garda Watch Programmes.  It operates and functions similar to other Garda Watch programmes such as Neighbourhood Watch & Community Alert.  The Garda Campus Watch Programme was established in the late 1990s with the aim to work in collaboration with third level institutions to promote secure learning environments.

Campus Watch works on the following basis:

• Gardaí engage/interact with students and staff, creating awareness in relation to safety and security issues.
• Students and staff are encouraged to look out for each other in relation to their safety and security and to report suspicious activities to the Gardaí.

In November 2024 a new online Garda Campus Watch Student Safety and Security Booklet was launched by the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau. This online digital resource is available free to download here from the Garda website and is designed at enhancing the safety and security of third-level students across Ireland. The booklet is specifically tailored towards third-level students, providing them with practical and up-to-date evidence-based information to help them navigate safety challenges and make informed decisions. The new Garda Campus Watch Booklet now includes sections which covers road safety with e-bikes and e-scooters, online crimes such as phishing and romance fraud, while it also provides updates on accommodation fraud and money laundering.

Personal Safety

As a new student, get to know the geography of your campus as soon as you can. Find out about public transport timetables, where you can park vehicles or bikes securely, campus security buildings and the local Garda Station.

College life should be about experiencing new things but remember when you are going out to PLAN and be Streetwise:

• Plan your night out, how you are getting there and back?
• Let someone know where you are going and when you’ll be back,
• Avoid walking alone in dark areas,
• Never attempt to reason with drunk or aggressive people and be
• Streetwise - get to know the locality and the surroundings, and mind your valuables.

It’s a good idea to upload emergency contacts onto your phone and activate find my phone on your device. Ensure it is charged before going out and keep a record of your IMEI number (Dial *#06# to get it). This will help us return your device to you if it’s located or handed in.

Accommodation Security / Personal Items

The very nature of a campus, where unfamiliar faces are common and accepted, lends itself to the work of the criminal who can blend in quite easily on campus and halls of residence. It is not unusual to see people carrying backpacks and other items without raising suspicion.

For students on tight budgets, expensive items are difficult to replace. It is highly advisable to spend a short time considering how effective measures can be taken to reduce the possibility of theft. The good news is that there are a number of actions you can take to reduce the chance of becoming a victim of crime.

Some tips to help secure your residence are:

• Ensure that all windows and doors are locked at all times. Remember to lock up and light up.
• Never give your keys to anyone else or leave them where others could access them.
• Always lock external doors – The main entrance is the fi­rst line of defence to your property.
• Close your curtains after dark and open them during the day. This provides an obvious sign that the property is not vacant.
• Act on suspicions you have, don’t dwell on them. Let the professional’s share your suspicions – Never reveal you are alone and contact Gardaí.
• Inform a trusted neighbour or friend if you are going away.
• Before you admit any callers to your accommodation, ensure you are satisfi­ed with their identity. Don’t be afraid to check the ID of unfamiliar people.
• Don’t let strangers in, or hold doors open for strangers who are arriving as you are leaving. Use the door chain on your room door. Remember – Other people live in the building too!
• You do not have to challenge people aggressively. You can approach someone and ask if they are lost or need help if you are unsure. Perhaps enlist the help of a fellow student before making any approach.
• If you think someone is behaving suspiciously, or trying to gain unauthorised access to accommodation, contact the Gardaí / Campus Security Personnel. Likewise, if you receive any strange, threatening, or abusive phone calls to your accommodation, report them to the Gardaí / Campus Security Personnel. 

Accommodation Frauds

Gardaí are advising people to be wary of rental scams, particularly during the summer months when students seek accommodation following the acceptance of college offers.

There are four main types (but this keeps evolving)

• Offering accommodation that doesn’t exist through social media.
• Offering accommodation that they are not entitled to offer.
• Taking deposits from more than one person.
• Cloned sites / totally bogus sites.

Figures

• There has been over 1100 incidents of Accommodation Fraud, from 2022 to 2025 YTD.
• The average estimated amount of cash stolen between 2022 to 2025 YTD was €1,566.81, with the median being €1,294.
• Approximately 40% of injured parties in 2024 was 25 and under.
• Between 2022 to 2025 YTD, individuals aged 25 and under were the higher proportion of injured parties.

Accommodation Fraud – Advice for Public & Red Flags

• Only use recognised letting agencies or deal with people who are bona fide and trusted i.e. the College or Student Unions.
• Check is the property advertised on other sites.
• Be wary of cloned websites – Ensure the site is real – check the URL, look for the trusted seals – check the privacy policy, refunds policy section, contact sections, even for spelling errors, check the websites policy on refunds.
• Ask for the exact address and verify the existence of the property. Check Google Maps to see that the property is the same as advertised. Reverse image search any posted images to see if they appear elsewhere on the internet (TinEye).
• Research rental prices in the area If you have decided to take up the offer, only use trusted money transfer systems - Do not make payment that is requested by cash, cryptocurrency, money via a non-bank transfer, e.g. a wire transfer, gift cards – pay in a way that is traceable and / or refundable, e.g. a credit card.
• Never give personal, financial or security information to someone unknown to you.
• Never agree to rent a property without having the opportunity to view it. Ideally, meet with the landlord for a tour of the accommodation. If this is not possible for some reason (this reason should be on your part, the landlord has no excuse), ask as many verifiable questions as possible such as: What bus routes are nearby? What local facilities are there (supermarkets etc)?
• Insist upon a proper receipt and lease.
• Ensure that the keys work and you have proper contact details for the landlord/agent.
• Be wary if the listing contains grammar or spelling mistakes and is on social media.
• Be wary if communication is only via WhatsApp or social media.
• Be wary if the landlord says they are unavailable and/or away and can’t meet you to show you the accommodation.
• Be wary if the property is offered with no questions asked.
• Be wary if the account to pay into is in a different country.
• Report any accommodation fraud to yourlocal Garda Station.
• Remember, if it’s too good to be true it generally is