Retired cop reveals one thrift shop find college students must keep outside their dorm front door – and scared off potential intruders
A new college student may spend the first few days settling into a new dorm or apartment. But feeling comfortable also meant thinking about basic safety. One former police officer, Michael Arterburn, shared a simple thrift-store find that students could place outside their door to make the home seem less inviting to potential intruders. The retired domestic violence detective shared the advice in an Instagram video posted on August 23, 2026, through his username @killer_bee_tactical, as reported by the New York Post.
Among his suggestions, Arterburn advised college students to visit a thrift store and buy a pair of large, worn men's work boots. He said placing them outside a dorm or apartment door could make someone think a large man lives there, which might discourage an unwanted visitor. "Ain't nobody messing with this guy," he said as he explained the idea. He also suggested bringing the boots inside from time to time so they do not look like they had been left there permanently. The advice was also especially for women, as he was responding to a comment about women's safety. The suggestion was meant as a simple visual trick rather than a complete security measure.
The retired cop also discussed ways students could make doors and windows harder to enter without making major changes to a rental home. For sliding glass doors, he suggested measuring the track and having a wooden dowel cut to fit inside it. He explained that the goal was not to make the place impossible to enter, but to create enough resistance that an intruder would make noise while trying. A door brace with an alarm was another option he mentioned for dorms with shared spaces. Simple alarms on doors and windows could also alert students if someone tried to enter.
His suggestions came as federal campus safety data recorded 6,673 on-campus burglary incidents at U.S. colleges and universities in 2024. The data came from the U.S. Department of Education's Campus Safety and Security Survey under the Clery Act. The figures covered on-campus burglaries rather than dorm-room theft specifically, but they showed why students may want to take simple precautions where they live.
Arterburn had more suggestions for making a home less appealing to someone trying to enter. He recommended motion-activated lights around entrances because sudden light could draw attention to a person approaching the property. "Bad guys don't like light," He commented in the video. He also suggested keeping personal alarms nearby and having car keys within reach at night, giving residents another way to attract attention if they noticed something unusual.
Arterburn's advice focused on making a home appear occupied, adding simple barriers, and creating ways to draw attention when needed. His thrift-store boot trick also stood out as a budget-friendly option for students that required no permanent changes to a dorm or apartment. For students living away from home for the first time, such small measures could offer an added sense of security. He ended the video on a simple note: "Be aware and be safe."
For more safety tips, follow @killer_bee_tactical on his Instagram account.
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