Crime Prevention Tips
While Walking At Night
- Avoid walking or jogging alone at night. Instead go walking or jogging with a friend.
- If you can not find someone to walk with you………contact the University Police at 316-7151 for an escort to your destination.
- Do not use headphones while walking, driving or jogging.
- Always walk in well-lighted areas.
- Avoid the use of short cuts.
- After dark, keep away from large bushes or doorways where someone could be lurking.
- If someone in a vehicle stops and asks for directions, answer from a distance. Do not approach the vehicle.
- If followed, go immediately to an area with lights and people. If needed, turn around and walk in the opposite direction.
- If someone in a car follows you and is persistent or becomes obscene, write down the license plate number and report it to the University Police as soon as possible.
- Do not display cash openly, especially when leaving an ATM.
While Driving
- If someone follows you and is persistent or becomes obscene, write down the license plate number and report it to the appropriate Police Department as soon as possible.
- Park in the best–lit parking lot nearest to where you are going.
- If you are trapped in your car, honk your horn in quick short bursts. This will attract people’s attention.
- Make sure that all the doors are locked whenever you leave your vehicle.
- When returning to your car, have your keys ready so you can enter your vehicle quickly. Be aware of your surroundings. If you have to look into a purse or pocket to find them, it takes extra time and you lose sight of what is around you.
- As you approach your vehicle, look underneath to make sure no one is hiding there. Before you enter your vehicle look to see if all of the doors are locked or if there are any uninvited passengers in the back seat or on the floor. If your door locks are not the way you left them, or you see someone inside, leave the area as quickly as possible and notify the University Police.
- Do not pick up Hitch-Hikers.
In Dating Situation
- Learn about a man’s attitudes toward women before you go out or as you talk.
- Express yourself clearly. Do not worry about “insulting” him; your safety is more important. Make your limits clear before you get into a potentially compromising situation.
- Avoid secluded places such as parks or deserted areas. Suggest meeting in public places where help will be nearby if you need it.
- Arrange your own transportation, especially if you do not know him well. Drive, use public transportation, or go out with a group or another couple.
- Be careful with alcohol and drugs. They can cloud judgment and slow responses. Be aware of your date’s use of alcohol or other drugs.
At Home or In Your Apartment
- Make sure that sturdy, working locks are installed on all doors and windows. Lock your door(s) any time you leave your room, including just going down the hall or to your neighbors.
- Leave lights on when you are out, and have your keys ready when you return.
- Vary your daily routine, if possible, so it is not predictable.
- Do not enter your home or room if it looks like it has been broken into. Call the police from the nearest phone.
- If you receive an obscene or threatening telephone call, gently hang up the telephone without saying anything. Do not talk to or encourage the offender.
- Do not give out any credit card number unless you initiate the transaction. Be careful when it comes to companies or organizations that call you, asking you to order something and then asking you to pay for it with a credit card.
- Engrave your valuables using a Driver’s License or other identifying number.
- Do not leave jewelry and money laying around your room, and do not show them to your neighbors.
