There’s big business in trash, said retired Master Sgt Keith Barry. “They find credit card statements in there, and that’s gold to them.” Barry, a graduate of the National Crime Institute in Louisville, Ky., wasn’t talking about garbage collectors, he was talking about criminals.
Barry, with the college’s Criminal Justice Institute, addressed about 30 college students Tuesday morning during “Keeping You Safe,” one of the Ybor campus Student Success Seminars. The lecture included safety tips for home, campus travel and even cyberspace.
According to Barry, three elements have to be present for a crime to take place: opportunity, victim, and ability. “If we can take one of those elements away, we can reduce the probability that a crime will happen,” said Barry. He should know. Barry has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and spent the last 25 years in law enforcement.
“How many of you carry your social security card with you?” Barry asked during the seminar.
“I used to, until it got stolen,” a student answered.
“Exactly,” said Barry. “Leave your wallet at home. Take only your drivers license and some cash or a debit card. Have deep front pockets, and use them.”
Simple tips like these were offered throughout the seminar, which also included tips on cyber-safety. “If you have a Facebook or Myspace account, think like a criminal. Don’t put information out there that can be used against you,” said Barry. “If you’re going on vacation for three weeks, you don’t want to post that information online and let everyone know. There is no place out there in the cyber world that’s safe.”
Many who attended seemed to walk away feeling better informed about personal safety. Some, however, still had concerns regarding safety on campus. “I would like to know why they haven’t increased security on campus since enrollments are up about 15 to 20 percent this year,” said Kimberly Porter, 45, a counseling major at HCC. “Aside from that, I learned some good common sense tips today.”
For information regarding dates and times for the Student Success Seminar series, visit http://www.hccfl.edu/yc/student-success-seminars.aspx
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