The Ames Police Department preached safety and prevention to a group of about 20 ISU students Thursday night at the Sterling University Plains apartment complex.

Officers from the Ames Police Department conducted a question-and-answer session about problems that occur most often in the college community.

Jeff Brinkley, along with Jennifer Jones and Suzy Owens, gave students tips about burglaries, alcohol violations and party violations during the discussion.

“Prevention is the big thing,” Brinkley said. “Any electronic equipment seems to be hot targets. When you get new CD players, stereos, speakers, anything like that, write down the serial numbers, so we have some way of getting that stuff back to you.”

He said the police department also has an engraver that students can borrow to put names on items.

Owens recommended ways to avoid attracting police to private parties.

“If we get called to a party and we find any number of violations, we will enforce them,” Owens said. “Anything that is considered a violation in our community will be given a citation. Citations range from noise violations to underage possession of alcohol to public intoxication.”

Brinkley said excessive noise usually is what brings police to parties.

“Most parties that we make visits to are because of noise complaints from neighbors,” Brinkley said. “Most of the time, we go to parties because the music is loud, so people start speaking louder. Then the music gets turned up because people are talking so loud. Then people start talking louder. Before you know it, we have to come out because neighbors are complaining.”

Jones said a lot of the problems in Ames are associated with operating while intoxicated, drinking underage and public intoxication.

“We do realize, we all went to college,” she said.

“I am not sitting here saying not to drink. Just be responsible about it.”

Owens said the best thing a person can do if picked up for a violation is to just be honest.

“It is just best to cooperate,” Owens said.

“If you approach us in a good way, we will treat you in a good way, too. We will try and do anything we can to help you out with the problem.”

Darcy Valline, a supervisor at Sterling University Plains, 4912 Mortensen Road, said she hopes the talks have a positive effect on students and residents in the apartment complex.

“We hope that these meetings help some of our students in one way or another,” Valline said. “We hope these students have some concerns, and that is why they are here.”