Personal Property Protection

in

Insurance Coverage

We recommend that you determine in advance if your possessions are covered by homeowner's insurance while you are on campus. Some policies have riders that allow coverage of personal possessions away from the insured home; others do not. If your property is not already covered by insurance, we strongly encourage you to obtain coverage for your stay in the residence halls. The University of Michigan assumes no liability for loss, theft or damage to personal property.

Property Inventory

Make a list of credit cards and valuable personal items—before you move to campus—so that in the event of loss, theft or damage, you have the information you need to file an insurance claim or work with the police. Use our Personal Property Inventory form to capture the necessary information. Keep a copy for yourself and keep another in a safe, secure place, preferably with a trusted friend or family member. Property Inventory cards are also available at any Community Center.

Label Expensive Items

Engrave your name or other identifying marks on personal property such as computers, televisions, stereos, etc. This gives police concrete evidence of ownership. It can also deter criminal activity since ID etching makes it more difficult to fence stolen property.

Secure Cash, Valuables And Belongings

  • Keep expensive belongings to a minimum.
  • Leave expensive jewelry or watches at your permanent home or store them in a safe deposit box.
  • Tickets for athletic or other events should not be left in plain view.
  • Small valuable items should be taken with you when you leave during the term for any reason (home visits, holiday breaks, etc.).
  • Do not carry large amounts of cash in your wallet or purse.
  • Do not leave clothing or other personal items unattended in laundry rooms.
  • Do not leave children’s toys outside after use.

Secure Your Room/Apartment

  • It's best to keep your door closed and locked, even if you're just visiting friends across the hall.
  • Keep small valuable items out of sight.
  • If your room's windows are accessible from outside, lock your windows when you are not at home.
  • Don't loan your room access cards or apartment keys to anyone. It is a violation of your contract and University policy to duplicate any University provided key.
  • Secure your room or apartment door when you are sleeping. All room doors have chain locks.
  • Close and lock your room door when you leave for a fire alarm or fire drill.
  • Use security bars on sliding glass doors.
  • Keep outside storage rooms locked.

Secure Your Hall/Building

  • Don't prop open your hall's outside entrance doors. Only residents and their invited guests should be in any hall (unless University Housing has authorized them to enter for meals, classes, etc.). Ask visitors to call you so that you can let them into the building. There are campus phones located outside each residence hall.
  • Be alert to strangers and call the Department of Public Safety at 763.1131 to report a potential intruder. Be prepared to describe the person as specifically as possible and where you last saw him/her.
  • No salespeople are permitted to go door-to-door in any University Housing residence hall or apartment community. If a solicitor approaches you, please notify Security or your Community Center. Representatives of non-profit agencies and candidates for political office must apply for prior written approval before going door-to-door and will have a signed authorization letter.

Secure Your Bike

Use a strong lock (preferable the U-lock kind) to secure your bike to a bike loop, even for short periods of time.

The Department of Public Safety may impound bikes that are locked to prohibited locations, so don't lock your bike to trees, parking meters, handrails, etc.

Register your bicycle with the City of Ann Arbor (City Clerk's Office, 100 North Fifth Avenue). This helps police track a stolen bicycle and increases the chance that it can be returned to you.

Secure Your Vehicle

Keep vehicle windows closed and doors locked at all times and store valuables out of sight.

Report Thefts or Losses

If you believe something has been stolen, report the loss immediately by contacting the Department of Public Safety at 763.1131.

The University of Michigan assumes no liability for loss, theft of, or damage to personal property.

University Housing is a unit of the Division of Student Affairs, and an equal opportunity educator and employer.

For housing related questions, please contact University Housing.
Email: housing@umich.edu
Phone: (734) 763-3164