Retired Detective Offers Practical Safety Hacks for First-Year College Students
Former domestic-violence detective Michael Arterburn shared a series of low-cost security measures for students moving into dorms or apartments for the first time.
Michael Arterburn, a retired detective with 23 years of experience in domestic-violence cases, posted a safety tutorial for incoming college students after a female follower asked for protection advice. He urged students to measure sliding-glass doors and fit a dowel rod to make forced entry noisy, and to install alarm-enabled door braces that double as stoppers. To deter intruders on a budget, Arterburn recommended buying an old pair of heavy work boots from a thrift store and placing them at the front door as a visual deterrent.
He also promoted non-lethal defenses such as home-defense pepper gel, which can spray up to about 20 feet without lingering chemicals, and CO₂-powered projectile launchers that are not classified as firearms. Complementary items on his list included door-wedge alarms, driveway motion alerts, solar-powered outdoor lights, faraday bags for phones and key fobs, travel pepper gels and personal alarms. The guidance mirrors recent safety recommendations from reformed cat burglar Jennifer Gomez, who emphasized vigilance and situational awareness in public spaces.
Why it matters
The tips give new college residents practical ways to protect themselves against assaults and break-ins.
In this story
