University Response to Recent Home Invasion

Dear Temple Community: 

Early this morning, Temple students were robbed at gunpoint at an off-campus property outside of the university’s patrol zone in the 1300 block of North 15th Street. Thankfully, no one was reported hurt or injured and the Philadelphia Police Department is conducting an investigation. 

Violence against one of us affects all of us. Any incident affecting a member of our community is treated with the utmost care and concern. Our Division of Student Affairs is working with the students affected to provide on-campus housing, counseling, and other trauma-informed resources. Campus resources are available to those in our student community who may be affected or need support. On-campus housing options are also available through University Housing and Residential Life. 

We want to remind everyone that our Best Nest Program helps students and their families find off-campus housing that meets certain safety and security criteria, which includes being located within Temple University Police Department’s patrol zone. In addition, any landlord in the patrol zone can apply for Temple’s Security Upgrade Grant of up to $2,500 which can be used for installing either lighting and/or cameras to improve security.

Student renters can take other protective measures including:

• Alerting your landlord to repair any broken doors, windows or locks. 
• Keeping windows and doors secured with adequate locks at all times. 
• Asking your landlord to change or re-key the locks to your unit before you move in. You never know who may still have a key.
• Securing sliding glass doors with a safety bar placed in the door track to prevent the door from being forced open.
• Never hide an extra house key under a mat, in a flowerpot, or any other easily accessible place.
• If you live in an apartment building, do not enter or leave the building if you notice strangers loitering in the entranceway. Don’t hold the door open or allow others to follow you inside unless they live in the building or have permission to enter from a tenant.
• Don’t share your plans for parties publicly on social media and only invite people you know into the property. 

Keeping our community informed, aware, and connected is critically important to the safety and security of our campus community and we urge everyone to download the RAVE Guardian Owl one-touch personal safety app and to use the Temple Police Department Security Escort Service which is available daily from 4 p.m. to 6 a.m. Our revamped Flight shuttle service also runs each day from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Temple’s Police Department has links to resources and safety awareness tips, plans and strategies.

Please contact Temple Police at 215-204-1234 with any questions about available safety resources and Temple’s efforts to protect members of its community. 

Sincerely,

Jennifer Griffin

Vice President for Public Safety