Safety in Spokane

Safety is always a concern for parents of new and returning Gonzaga students.  While the Logan Neighborhood, the area where GU is located, is not without some crime, contrary to student folklore, the neighborhood has a standard crime rate for Spokane.

Most crimes that occur at or around the Gonzaga neighborhood are crimes of opportunity.  Criminals usually are not going to go out of their way to do extra work to commit crimes.  Rather, they are going to get what they want with the littlest effort possible.  Things like unlocked doors and overconsumption of alcohol can lead to students being easy targets.  Here are some things your student should keep in mind:

• Never walk alone in the neighborhood or anywhere they don’t feel comfortable.  The buddy system is a safer way to go.  Students can also call GU Security (509-313-2222) at night to get a ride across campus if needed.  Gonzaga’s Student Body Association (GSBA) also offers a free taxi service, called SafeRide, for students who are in unsafe or compromising situations and need a ride home.  SafeRide can be reached at 509-568-8000. Students should consider programming these numbers into their cell phones.
• Always lock their doors.  In the residence halls, this includes times when students are simply “going down the hall for a second.”  Rooms that are left unlocked are easy targets for theft.  Students living off campus should always locked doors and windows.  Campus Security receives reports every year of students whose belongings were stolen from the lower level of their house while they were asleep upstairs.
• Bike thefts are common.  Students with U-locks experience less theft than other types of locks that are easily cut or broken.  Campus Security sells U-locks at a reduced rate.  Student should remember to always lock their bike through the frame of the bike rather than through the wheel.
• Along with bike thefts, car prowlings are common.  Make the inside of student’s cars look as boring as possible.  Remove all valuables from vehicles.  Take all spare change with you.  GPS systems are a common item stolen from cars.  Encourage students to take them back into their house/residence hall with them. If the car your student drives is on the list of cars most commonly stolen, get an immobilizing device, like a club, that won’t allow the car to be driven.

Students can always help prevent crimes by simply calling Campus Public Safety and Security or Spokane Police if they see something suspicious.  Care and concern keeps other members of our community safe and helps Security and the police know who to keep an eye on.  Gonzaga’s Public Safety and Security office has a blog that is updated frequently and includes safety information and alerts about recent events in the Gonzaga community/Logan Neighborhood.  You can view this blog by going to http://blogs.gonzaga.edu/campo/ Encourage your student to be safe in Spokane.