Izzy Waite
Trigger Warning: This article contains content regarding breaches of personal safety and privacy that may make some readers uncomfortable.
As students are returning to Kingston after winter break, some of them have come home to houses that have been broken into and belongings that has been stolen. It makes sense that the University District would be a popular target for burglaries over the break because it is common knowledge that many students return home for the holidays and leave their university housing unattended. Having your house broken into can be a traumatic experience that could potentially leave many students feeling unsafe in their own homes.
When one of my housemates came back to our university house after winter break, she
found a window wide open in one of the bedrooms that we had left closed before we left to go home. Luckily, we had bars on that window and we did not find anything stolen. Even though it had not been a successful burglary, this incident has left me feeling less safe in a place that I consider home. Home, even a temporary university house, is the place we should all feel the most safe. When this level of safety and comfortability is taken away, it leaves everyone on edge. This is last thing we need considering the exceedingly challenging times we're facing as students.
Although it is common for students to return to their hometown over the holidays, not
everyone does. Especially in these trying times, when the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, is making it difficult to travel, some students might not have the option to travel back home.
Burglars could break into a house thinking that it is vacant, but because someone is home the situation could escalate to something much more serious. This is why it important that even if you are home, you should still lock all of your doors and windows. These are also good habits to adopt during the school year when most houses are occupied.
Hearing about surrounding houses being broken into can cause a lot of anxiety for
students. Although burglaries in the University District can be frequent, there are many things that students can do to minimize the potential of a break in. I know that it sounds like common sense, but it is very important that students lock their doors and all of their windows and double check that they are locked before leaving. Additionally, as I explained, our break in was not successful due to the bars that we have on our windows. This would be a great investment for students who are worried about burglaries during the holidays. Students can also have a trusted friend who is staying in Kingston for the holidays check on their house. If students don’t know anyone who is staying in the area, The Alma Mater Society also provides a service where students will do exterior checks of student houses, check to see if doors and windows are locked, and look for signs of break ins.
Any feelings of fear and a lack of security can be detrimental to mental and emotional health. As well as lasting trauma that can develop, stemming from the invasion of privacy and breach of security. Any feelings that arise from a lack of safety are not to be ignored. If you are anyone you know are having feelings such as these, there are several different resources available to help alleviate these feelings.
Resources
AMS Holiday House Check Ins
Queen's Risk and Safety Services
Comments