Holiday Break Safety Tips
With Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks fast approaching, students need to be thoughtful about leaving residences unoccupied for extended periods of time. For off-campus students in particular, forward planning and preparations are crucial!
Get your residence checked over break!
If you would like your home checked while you are away on break, the Spokane Police Department Senior Volunteers offer this service. Services are provided Monday through Friday for up to 30 days. All doors and windows are physically checked including any out-buildings on your property. Call the Vacation Home Check Information line at (509)622-5885 if you are interested in having this service provided to you.
Let trusted neighbors or friends know you are leaving and ask them to keep an eye on your place.
Leave exterior lights on. Lock all gates, doors and windows. Close all curtains.
Vehicles
If you live off-campus, you may want to park your car on campus over holiday breaks. The City of Spokane only allows parking on the street for up to twelve hours at a time. Additionally, your car may be towed or blocked in by snowplows in the event of a snowstorm. Consider utilizing the free parking program offered by Campus Public Safety and Security (CPS&S) at the Boone/Van Gorp parking lot. No permit is required but you must sign up at the CPS&S office located in lower Welch hall. Parking is limited to the Green Lot and is available on a first-come first-served basis. This service will run from November 27 to December 1 for Thanksgiving break and December 18 to January 14 for Christmas break. Campus Security is not responsible for any damage or theft to vehicles if you choose to utilize this program. Remember to lock your vehicle and remove all valuables that may attract unwanted attention.
Mail & Packages
If you will be gone more than two to three days, make arrangements to have your mail and newspaper deliveries stopped or picked up by a trusted neighbor or friend.
Whether you live on campus or off, you may rent a mailbox from the Gonzaga Mail Room for $35.00 per school year. Currently, mailbox rentals are available for $20.00 for the rest of the school year. With a mailbox through Gonzaga, you can have packages delivered to the secure mail room.
The United States Parcel Service offers the following service if you will be away from your off-campus residence for any period of time: https://holdmail.usps.com/duns/HoldMail.jsp
Holiday Break Security Tips!
Check out holiday break security tips, and some great winter travel tips & links at
- Holiday break security tips for off-campus residents