Submitted by: M Badler(302) M Badler Executive Security Group, LLC Log in to become a member of M Badler's Fan Club!
Improving your personal security as a college student does not have to be very complicated or time consuming. This may be the first time you are away from home and you probably have not thought too much about you personal security until now. Even worse, many students think, "It can't happen to me." The most important thing you can do is adopt the mindset that college students are targets for criminals, and that it can indeed happen to you.
As a security expert and consultant, I have seen, firsthand, how casually college students treat their personal security. They just do not believe anything will happen to them. The sad truth is that there is a lot of crime perpetrated against college students, both male and female. Campus crime statistics from all over the United S tates show that the three most common offenses are burglary, vehicle theft, and assault. You can reduce the chance that it will happen to you. M ost of what you must do is very simple; you just need to remember to do it.
Burglary
(The crime of entering a building to commit a felony, usually theft, or an instance of such a crime)
As a group, college students have more expensive computer and electronic equipment than the general population. These items are valuable, easy to sell, and very portable. Because students spend a lot of time socializing in each other's apartments and dorm rooms, nobody regards it as suspicious when they see people they do not know coming and going. An unlocked room or apartment is "easy pickings" for criminals.
Always lock your room door even if you will only be across the hall or going to the rest room for a few minutes. M ost crimes that occur on a residential campus are crimes of opportunity and happen when a door is left open or unlocked.
Lock your door before you go to sleep.
Do not prop open residence hall exterior doors.
Do not share your hall combination number with other people.
Inform your roommate or friends where you are if you plan to remain away from your room overnight.
Do not lend your room key to another person.
Do not leave your purse, backpack, briefcase or laptop computer unattended. If possible, always secure valuables in a locked cabinet or drawer. Avoid leaving valuables on or beneath a desk.
Safeguard any documents that include personal information that others could use to commit identity theft.
M ark articles of value with an identifying number/mark. ( S ocial security number or date of birth) Photograph valuable property and keep photographs and records of this information in a safe place.
PREVENTING AUTO THEFT
Telling which cars belong to what students are usually not a problem, and which ones belong to faculty. Students drive the expensive ones. Their cars are the most likely to be stolen. More common than losing your car is having your personal belongings taken. College students tend to keep many valuables in their cars. M ake sure your car is locked and your valuables are out of sight. Locking them in the trunk or glove compartment is recommended.
Do not make your car an easy target for a thief. On average, it takes less than 30 seconds to steal a car. Always lock your car, close the windows and take the keys.
If possible, invest in an alarm system or theft deterrent device.
Never leave valuables in sight. Not only your car but also its contents attract thieves.
Never leave your car running and unoccupied, even for just a minute.
Park in well-lighted areas. The light will help make a thief more noticeable.
Have your vehicle identification number etched on the car windows. Drop a business card into your door panels. This may make your car more easily identifiable to law enforcement.
Use high visibility theft deterrent such as a steering wheel lock or security alarm.
Always lock you car with the windows up even on blistering hot days.
Assault
(A violent physical or verbal attack) Threat of bodily harm: an unlawful threat or attempt to do violence or harm to somebody else.
M ost assaults occur after dark. It is of special concern. Assault is bad enough, but sexual assault is even worse. It can scar you for life, so women should be particularly careful. There is safety in numbers. If you must be out after dark, go with a friend. If you cannot find another student, you know to go with you, use a security escort. M any campuses provide this as a free service for college students traveling back to their dorms from the library or late night classes. You simply call campus security and some security escorts will come to walk you home.
Always walk with a friend or security escort after dark even if it is just across campus.
If attacked, SCREAM ! Bite, kick, and stomp the attacker's foot with your heel. Do anything to bring public attention to your situation.
Dating can also result in sexual assault. One of the best things you can do on a date to reduce the likelihood of sexual assault is to refrain from alcohol and drugs. Insist that your date does too. Drinking, or taking drugs, impairs your judgment, and weakens your inhibitions. S ome men, sadly, hope it will make their date more receptive to sexual activity. Because alcohol and drugs makes some people aggressive, he might not take "no" for an answer. Aside from any moral issues you may have with sex, your date may have Herpes or HIV. There is no known cure for either of these diseases. Do not let your guard down.
Always avoid alcohol and drugs during a date it could save your life.
Practice being aware of your surroundings and behavior of the people around you. Follow your intuition; trust your feelings about a situation.
Never leave your drink unattended. Because they are colorless and odorless, drugs used in Drug Facilitated S exual Assault can be slipped into any type of beverage. If you leave your drink unattended, do not finish it. Get a new one.
Do not accept drinks from anyone but a bartender or server.
Try to attend bars or parties with a group of friends, arranging beforehand to watch each other's drinks.
If you think, your drink has been tampered with, seek medical attention immediately and request the hospital to conduct toxicology testing.
HANDLING OBSCENE OR HARASSING PHONE CALLS
A telephone call is considered obscene or harassing if it is received at a location where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy and the caller makes repeated calls or makes any comment, request, suggestion, or proposal, which is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, vulgar, or indecent. If you receive harassing or obscene phone calls:
Report obscene or harassing phone calls received on-campus to the Campus S ecurity Office.
Pay attention to any background noises, the caller's sex, accent, speech pattern, or anything else to aid in identification.
Keep a log of calls received. Include the date, time and details of the call.
If calls are recorded on voicemail, save the recording.
S AFETY TIPS FOR PEDESTRIANS
Be alert and conscious of your surroundings.
Utilize sidewalks where provided.
If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic.
When out at night, wear white or light color clothing
Avoid walking out in front of moving vehicles.
Use available crosswalks when crossing service road.
Yield to vehicles when not crossing at a crosswalk.
Watch for oversized vehicles turning with a wide radius
S AFETY TIPS FOR DRIVERS
Drive defensively: Anticipate the unexpected
Always yield to all pedestrian traffic.
When turning, be especially watchful for pedestrians and bicycle traffic.
Watch your "blind spot" for other traffic, such as bicycles and pedestrians overtaking you when making right turns
When passing pedestrians, reduce speed and maintain a safe distance...
Keep items of value out of sight.
Report suspicious persons and/or activity to campus security, RA's, living center coordinators, custodians or faculty. If observed after office hours contact campus security...
BICYCLE SECURITY
Park and lock your bicycle in well-lighted areas.
Secure your bicycle to a bicycle rack with a quality hardened steel "U" type lock. Always lock your bicycle by putting the U-lock through the bike's frame, a wheel, and the rack. This is especially important if your bicycle has quick-release tires.
If you have quick-release wheels, remove the front wheel and place it next to the rear wheel. Then put the U-lock through wheels, the frame and the bicycle rack.
Avoid putting a U-lock through only one wheel. The wheel can be removed, and the frame and the remaining wheel can easily be stolen.
Place the lock on your bicycle with the key mechanism facing the ground. This will make it less likely for the mechanism to fail because of exposure to the weather and harder for a thief to tamper with.
Avoid using a cable lock, locking your bicycle to itself, or leaving it parked in the same place for a long period.
Avoid blocking building entrances, ramps, handicap areas with your bicycle.
PROTECT YOURSELF WHILE RUNNING
Running is a fun activity that benefits the mind and the body. When you jog, run or walk, remember and practice these simple safety precautions:
Run in familiar areas.
Avoid running at night. If you must run at night, wear reflective materials or a flashing safety light. The ability of others to see you at night is related to the amount of reflective and light color material you wear.
Avoid running in traffic lanes and becoming a traffic hazard.
Avoid unpopulated areas, deserted, dark streets and overgrown trails. Run clear of parked cars and bushes.
Always carry identification or write your name, telephone number, and blood type on the inside of your running shoe. If necessary, include important medical information.
Always run with a partner.
Carry a cell phone.
Always remain aware of your surroundings. S tay alert. The more aware you are, the less vulnerable you become.
Be confident. Look directly at others and be observant. M ost criminals select a victim who acts timid, frightened or unsure.
Do not wear headsets. Use your ears to be more aware of your surroundings.
Use discretion in acknowledging strangers.
Trust your feelings. If an area feels bad or a person makes you uneasy, listen to your feelings and get away.
Carry a whistle, noisemaker or body alarm. If you are harassed or bothered, use the noisemaker to attract attention.
PROTECT YOURSELF WHILE USING AN ATM
Avoid using an ATM when by yourself. Either take someone with you or only use an AT M when others are around.
Avoid using an ATM after dark. If you must, choose an ATM location that is well illuminated and does not have tall bushes nearby.
When you arrive at an ATM , look around. If you see anything that makes you uncomfortable or anyone who looks suspicious, do not stop. Either use an ATM at a different location or come back later.
Have your access card and any other documents you need ready when you approach an ATM . While you are fumbling with a wallet or purse, you are easy game for a thief.
While using the ATM , stay alert to your surroundings. Look up and around every few seconds while transacting your business.
Protect your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Do not enter your PIN if anyone else can see the screen. Shield your PIN from onlookers by using your body.
When your transaction is finished, be sure you have your card and your receipt, and then leave immediately. Avoid counting or otherwise displaying large amounts of cash.
As you leave, be alert for anything or anyone who appears suspicious. If you think you are being followed, go to an area where others are present and call the police.
PER S ONAL S AFETY AND THE INTERNET
Meeting people on the Internet as a correspondent is very easy; discerning any real information about these new acquaintances is more difficult. No matter if, you are meeting people through commercial dial-up services, commercial or free chat lines, online dating services, newsgroups, or in other ways, you should be aware of the possible dangers of interaction when conversations turn in a personal direction.
Here are some basic personal safety tips you should consider whenever participating in Internet communication, particularly of a personal nature:
Avoid giving out personal information such as your home address or telephone number to people you meet on the net.
Exercise caution when agreeing to meet anyone in person whom you have met on the net. Before you arrange any such meetings, attempt to verify, through a third party whom you know and trust, the identity of this person.
If you choose to arrange a meeting, make it on YOUR terms:
Meet in as public a place as possible.
Arrange your own transportation to and from the meeting.
Bring a friend along for security; consider a "double-date" the first few times.
Set your conditions for the encounter, and do not let your new friend change them.
Limit meetings to public places until you are comfortable with the other person and certain of whom they are and what they want from the relationship.
IDENTITY THEFT
A good deadbolt on your door will not protect you from one of the more modern and sinister crimes: identity theft. Here is what you need to know.
Someone could steal your identity by:
Stealing your wallet or purse
Filling out a change of address form for you and collecting your mail
Snatching pre-approved credit forms from the trash
Ordering unauthorized credit reports on you by posing as a potential employer, property owner or even you
Gathering sensitive information and using it for revenge (former friend, lover, roommate or co-worker)
Illegally tapping a computer at a business to which you have provided information
Looking over your shoulder when using public telephones and AT M . The bad guy will try to gather PIN numbers (sometimes using binoculars or listening devices)
Using phony telemarketing schemes to con you into giving your personal data. NEVER GIVE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUM BER TO ANYONE OVER THE PHONE OR COMPUTER.
What can I do to protect my identity from theft?
Chance passwords and PIN numbers regularly. Do not use obvious codes such as birthdays, names of spouse, child or pet. S hred any paper that shows such data.
Carefully review credit card statements, phone and other bills. Promptly respond to any inaccurate information.
Always take your credit card receipts. Never throw them away in public.
Tear up any offers of pre-approved credit cards. Never throw away the envelope intact.
Never give personal information over the phone or computer.
Beware of anyone asking for your Social Security number.
Pick up new checks at the bank instead of having them sent to you by mail.
Do not put personal information on a computer home page or personal computer profile.
What should I do if my identity is stolen?
If someone steals your credit cards, driver's license, S ocial S ecurity number or any other type of identifying information about you, that person has stolen your identity.
As soon as you are certain of the theft, do the following:
Contact the police
Cancel debit and credit cards, AT M cards and phone cards
Call credit bureaus for a fraud alert.
Equifax: www.equifax.com or 800-525-6285
Experian: www.experian.com or 888-397-3742
Trans Union : www.tuc.com or 800-680-7289
Tell the credit bureaus that you are an identity theft victim and request they place a "fraud alert." Request a note be placed in your file and a statement asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts or changing existing accounts.
Report stolen checks to your bank.
Alert the post office if you suspect the thief may have filed a change of address form in your name.
Contact phone companies.
Last resort changes: new Social Security number and new driver's license number.
The Campus Security Office has a primary responsibility for serving the safety and security needs of the campus security needs of the campus community.
No society can be completely risk-free. Safety and security is everyone's responsibility. Therefore, the collective efforts of students and staff in collaboration with Campus S ecurity, which is available 24/7, are necessary. Students, staff, and visitors are partners in maintaining an environment that is safe and conducive to the learning process. Everyone has to be alert, security conscious, and involved. Students are required to abide by the Code for Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, as well as all College policies, regulations, and procedures.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is
provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice
provided to you by any health care or other professional or
organization.
