With Thanksgiving this week and the holiday season around the corner, the UCF Police Department reminds you to keep safety top of mind.

If you will be away from UCF during the holidays, make sure to take expensive items such as jewelry, laptops and other valuables with you. Have a friend or trusted neighbor collect any mail, packages or newspapers, or ask the U.S. Postal Service to hold your mail until you return.

The holidays are a busy travel time, and it’s important to be safe on the road. UCFPD is joining agencies across the country in a Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement wave that will go through Nov. 30, and officers will issue citations to drivers and passengers who are not wearing a seat belt.

Holiday festivities also can lead to risks on the road. If your plans involve alcohol, elect a sober driver before you go out, or plan on taking a taxi. Never drink and drive or get in a car with a driver who is impaired.

UCF Police will continue to patrol campus during the holiday season, and law enforcement will pay special attention to residential areas and shopping centers.

Ultimately, safety is a team effort, and crime awareness and the reporting of suspicious activity lessen the chances of crime occurring. If you see something, say something, and report sketchy behavior to 911.

Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving and successful finish to the fall semester.