University of Southern California - Safety & Security

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Although most students would agree that our campus is safe and secure, there is no denying the fact that bad things happen from time to time. As far as petty theft goes, students with a mind to keep what’s theirs had better lock bikes and bedroom doors. Clothing, money, and other valuables are reported stolen from apartments and dorm rooms on occasion, while bikes are stolen on a daily basis. Reports of assault and robbery usually come from the area just north of campus, where most of the student apartments are located. The DPS and the LAPD have committed more and more officers to problem areas in the past few years, and even though problems still exist, assailants tend to strike in the darkest, most remote areas that most students are smart enough to avoid. Students, especially young women, are advised against walking alone late at night. Students who pay attention to their surroundings and keep track of their friends will most likely graduate unscathed.

All USC students are required to sign up for Trojan Alerts, which inform students about what is happening on campus with DPS and which areas to avoid. Mass texts and e-mails are sent out immediately if there is a problem that needs to be contained. Each Trojan Alert gives students a description of what is happening and a description of the suspects, if available. This system only lets people know about the biggest problems, however, and smaller things, such as dorm thefts, are left unaddressed.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

This is South Central. Things... This is South Central. Things happen. Don’t leave your door unlocked, but you don’t have to be looking over your shoulder, either. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

On campus, I never worried about... On campus, I never worried about strange neighborhood people coming to my door or anything, but once I moved off-campus, that changed a little. I moved into a house that is three or four blocks from campus. We have had quite a few things stolen from our yard. We also have people come and solicit a lot, which can be scary if you are home alone. You won’t get this if you live in campus housing or the off-campus, USC-owned apartments. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

Personally, I have never had a... Personally, I have never had a problem. I have walked back from the Row many times between two and four in the morning by myself and never felt uncomfortable. The nice thing about the area is that there is always LAPD around everywhere, so I have always felt safe. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

The area directly around USC is... The area directly around USC is pretty safe because it’s all student housing, but if you go a little too far in the wrong direction, it can get a little scary. That just comes with living in a city. There are certain places you learn not to go near, and everywhere else is fine. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

I won’t lie to you, USC is in... I won’t lie to you, USC is in South Central LA, but our security force is really good; they are all LAPD-trained and have the same authority. Most of them carry guns, but I have never seen them used or anything. They are basically exactly the same as police officers. 12345 Safety & Security Report

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