Crime prevention means being aware of your environment and remaining alert to situations that could make you vulnerable to crime. We cannot list specific measures that will protect you from every threatening situation that may arise.

Instead, we hope to teach you how to think "crime prevention" in day-to-day living. The suggestions presented should not be thought of as a list of crime prevention measures, but as examples of common sense behavior that will help you to make life safer and more secure.

Protect Yourself

DO NOT GIVE YOUR NAME, address, or phone number to strangers. If you have your name published in the local telephone directory, use only initials and do not list your address.

AT NIGHT, travel in frequently used and well lighted areas. Avoid taking "shortcuts."

WALK FACING TRAFFIC whenever possible. This increases awareness of potential traffic hazards and also reduces the possibility of being followed by someone in a vehicle. Avoid walking by the curb or near buildings or shrubbery. Walk in the middle of the sidewalk with confidence.

IF YOU FEEL THREATENED or suspect that you are being followed, walk toward lighted areas where there are people. Look over your shoulder frequently - this lets the follower know that you are aware of both his presence and your surroundings.

WHEN RIDING IN A CAR, keep the doors locked. Park in the most lighted area you can find. Upon returning to your car, have your keys ready as you approach your vehicle. Check the back and front seats to make sure that the car is empty before you get in.

IF ANYTHING MAKES YOU LOOK TWICE OR FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, CALL THE POLICE. REPORT ANY UNUSUAL OR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IMMEDIATELY.

Protect Yourself in Your Car

LOCK YOUR CAR and take the keys with you. Many car burglaries and car thefts occur because the owner did not take time to secure the car. Don't make your car a target of opportunity by leaving it unlocked.

DO NOT PARK in isolated, dark places if these areas can be avoided. Park where there are people about and where the car will be lighted.

DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLE items unattended in your car. Place expensive items such as cameras, packages and even textbooks in the locked trunk.

While Driving

• Keep your car in good working order and the gas tank at least half full.
• If you get a flat, drive carefully on it until you reach a safe, well-lit and well-traveled area.
• If your car breaks down, put the hood up and the hazard lights on. Use flares if you have them.
• Stay inside the car with the doors locked. If someone stops to help, don't get out of your car. Roll down the window slightly and ask the person to contact the police or a tow service.
• Never stop to assist a stranger whose car has broken down. Instead, drive to the nearest phone and call police for help.
• Exercise extra caution when using underground and enclosed parking areas. Try not to enter alone.
• If you are being followed, don't drive home. Go to the nearest police or fire station and honk your horn. If that is not possible, drive to an open gas station or other business where you can safely contact the police.
• Don't leave your car unless you are certain you can make it inside the building safely.
• If possible, try to obtain the license plate number and the description of the vehicle following you.

Protect Yourself in Public Areas

DO NOT LEAVE PERSONAL PROPERTY UNATTENDED. In public areas, such as the Library and classrooms, do not leave your personal effects unattended, even "for just a minute."

DO NOT CARRY MORE CASH than you need. Avoid "flashing" your cash in public.

DO NOT CARRY BOTH YOUR IDENTIFICATION cards and checks in your wallet. Keep them separate: I.D.s in your wallet in one pocket and your checkbook in another pocket. Do not write your PIN number down. If you do lose your checkbook or bankcard, the thief will not have access to that number.

CARRY YOUR PURSE OR BACKPACK close to your body, and keep a tight grip on it.

MARK ITEMS that you normally take to class, such as textbooks, backpacks and calculator, with either your name or driver's license number.

KEEP A LIST of your credit cards, identification cards and checking account numbers. If they are stolen or lost, you will have a list of numbers to provide to the police. Remember that you must contact not only the police, but also all of the credit card companies and banks with which you do business. Make these notifications immediately.

Cellular telephones are an excellent way to remain in touch and summon help in an emergency.

If You are Attacked

• Keep your head.
• Stay as calm as possible, think rationally and evaluate your resources and options.
• It may be more advisable to submit than to resist and risk severe injury or death.
• You will have to make a decision based on the circumstances. Be especially careful if your attacker has a weapon.
• Keep assessing the situation as it is happening.
• If one strategy doesn't work, try another.
• Possible options in addition to nonresistance are negotiating, stalling for time, distracting the assailant and fleeing to a safe place, verbal assertiveness, screaming to attract attention, and physical resistance.
• Stay alert and observant so that you can better describe your attacker(s) and the assault to the police.

After the Attack

• Go to a safe place and call the police.
• The sooner you make the report, the greater the chances the attacker will be caught.
• Do not destroy any clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault.
• Do not disturb anything in the area where the assault took place.
• Write down a description of the attacker and the circumstances of the assault. Police need all the information they can get about the assailant.

Personal Security at the Office

• Never leave your purse, backpack or briefcase in plain view.
• Personal property should be marked with your driver's license number.
• Don't leave cash or valuables at the office.
• If you work alone or before/after normal business hours, keep the office door locked.
• If you work late, try to find another worker or call for an escort when exiting the building.
• Be alert for pickpockets on crowded elevators.
• Be aware of escape routes for emergencies, and post phone numbers of the campus police near telephones.
• Be extra careful in stairwells and restrooms.
• In an elevator, stand near the controls and locate the emergency button.
• If you are assaulted while in an elevator, hit the emergency or alarm button and press as many floor buttons as possible.

Know How to Call for Help

The following guidelines apply to emergency conditions on campus. It is not possible to establish procedures for every type of emergency, but these guidelines cover many emergency or hazardous situations. Please review them frequently so that you will be prepared in an emergency.

• FIRE ALARMS - If you hear a fire alarm, you must leave the building immediately. In multi-story buildings, do not use the elevator; exit via the stairway. Cooperate with all staff members and other authorities. Do not reenter the building until you are given permission to do so by a police officer, fire fighter or staff member.
• BOMB THREATS - Notify the police at once if you receive a bomb threat. Try to be as specific as possible when relaying what the caller said.
• MEDICAL EMERGENCIES - For any situation requiring emergency medical assistance on campus, call 216-8700.
• MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS - State statutes require that the police be notified of any motor vehicle accident resulting in personal injury or property damage in excess of $500.00. Accidents on campus should be reported to the BRCC Police Department at 216-4011.

For additional information, please contact Environmental & Public Safety Department.