As winter break approaches and many are ready to head home, the DeKalb Police Department encourages students to keep their apartments secure while away.

Lt. Gary Spangler of the DeKalb Police Department said students should take any expensive items with them and triple check to make sure all doors and windows are locked.

“It’s not going to prevent all the burglaries, but it is going to prevent some where people go in through doors and windows,” Spangler said.

It is also advisable to lock bedroom doors if possible to prevent inner roommate thefts, he said.

As a general tip, Spangler advises serial and model numbers of more expensive items such as televisions and laptops be documented, so if recovered they can be traced back to the owner.