Pittsburgh has recently been ranked as one of the safest cities in the United States, but there are still some things you can do to make yourself less vulnerable to crime.
Crimes of Opportunity
Crimes of opportunity are those where there is little to no risk of confrontation. For example, stealing from an unlocked car in a parking lot is a crime of opportunity. The best way to protect your belongings is to never leave your doors unlocked or your items unattended. This might be safe to do in your home country, but it is not common or recommended in the U.S.
Traveling Across Campus at Night
While it is safe to walk on campus and through most of Pittsburgh, that doesn't always mean you are comfortable doing so. Some people don't feel safe walking alone at night in ANY city or as a woman. Pitt offers the following services if you ever feel unsafe walking at night on campus.
Scams
The international population has been a high target for several scams and Pitt students and scholars have lost significant amounts of money. These scams not only target our international students, but their families at home as well. Because these scams are so common for our international community, we have an entire page devoted to information on Scams as well as an online training about Scams for all incoming students. Scams are (by far) the most significant and common threat to the international community and we encourage you to learn as much as possible to protect yourself.
Pitt Police
We are very lucky to have our own university police department to protect and serve our community. These are police officers specifically trained to help people in a educational environment. Depending on your home country, the police may not be very helpful or capable, but the Pitt Police are both. They also present many programs to help meet the community and help educate them about safety on campus. The police are the best resource on campus for any safety concerns you have. You can contact the Pitt Police by calling 412-624-2121 or in an emergency (blood, accident with injuries, fire, etc.) you can find the Emergency phone stations located throughout the campus. Here is a video about the Pitt Police: