Public safety alerts campus

Students at area colleges have been victims of theft from a group of people. Public safety wants Cabrini students'to be aware of credit card theft, especially during the holiday season.

by Beth Conahan news editor

Credit cards have been stolen at several area colleges and public safety wants Cabrini students to be on alert.

Charles Schaffner, director of public safety, met with the directors of public safety froro a half dozen area colleges at Villanova last week. The meeting alerted Schaffner about a group of people that have been stealing credit cards from students at colleges in the area.

Once they have the credit cards in. their possession, they max out the credit cards and have the power then to use that credit card to get more credit cards in the per- son's name.

Alleged m~mbers of the group have been arrested but public safety still wants students to be cautious.

Schaffner confirmed that Villanova and Bryn Mawr were both hit by the group and other colleges in the area should be on guard.

Schaffner warns students to be careful with purses and wallets. He especially wants students to be careful with their driver's licenses and social security cards.

Last year, a similar problem occurred on campus. Someone came to campus and collected personal information from students. The person or people who collected information from students at Cabrini also collected information from other area colleges. Schaffner said there were four incidents last year. Public safety turned the information they collected over to the police.

Public safety asks students to be careful, especially during the holiday season. Shaffner asks that students not carry large amounts of cash or flash money around, to be careful with their credit cards and personal information, not leave • purses unattended and to always lock their doors.

• "We're aware of this," Schaffner said. "And we're keeping our eye out for these people."

Schaffner also asks that if students are victim to any kind of crime that they contact public safety immediately.

Safety Tips

•Don't leave your personal belongings unattended.

•Secure and Lock your valuable, purses, etc. Don't leave the items under your desk.

•Limit the amount of credit cards, money or valuables that you must carry with you.

•Notify Pub)ic Safety if you have missing or stolen property.