Dear Editor:
It’s that time of year, when a young person’s mind turns to college or university. You want to ensure they are prepared for such a huge step by getting all the items they need for their studies, and to set up their new residence.
Have you prepared them on how to deal with criminal activity?
Regardless if they are attending school in Halifax, Vancouver or anywhere in between, you can help your student be safe by letting them know about Crime Stoppers. The toll-free number 1-800-222-TIPS can be used anywhere in Canada and will route their call to the nearest program. They can also search for Crime Stoppers in their area, as most major centres have active programs, to use a webtip method of reporting crime.
Here in Guelph Wellington, we are proud of our affiliation with the University of Guelph and its Safe Gryphon app which is a one-stop feature offered through University of Guelph Campus Police. It has a number of options, including Friend Walk, Campus Police Services and Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington (CSGW). The top right red square is “Report a Tip”. By selecting this icon, students can report to Campus Police or anonymously to CSGW. It will connect you by phone or link them directly to the webtip page. Safe Gryphon is available wherever you purchase your online services, such as Play Store.
Safe Gryphon is an excellent way to have safety at their fingertips, without a visible Crime Stoppers app that advertises that the phone has a connection to CSGW. Remember, we keep you anonymous to protect you, and that is exactly what the Safe Gryphon app offers.
If your student is going to another campus, see if they have a “Safe” app that allows your student to report crime and remain safe.
We strongly encourage young people who are going away to college or university for the first time, to think about their new school community, and do their part to keep it safe. This is also part of being a productive member of society.
Remember, call 1-800-222-TIPS or go to www.csgw.tips if you have information about crime in your community.
Sarah Bowers-Peter,
Program coordinator, Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington