PERSONAL SAFETY

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PERSONAL SAFETY

• PRESENTER CAPTAIN GINA HAYS
• October 11, 2000

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TEST!!!! YOUR STREET SMARTS

• DO YOU jog or walk by yourself early in the
  morning or late at night when the streets are
  quiet and deserted?
• DO YOU stuff your purse with cash, keys, credit
  cards, checkbook-and then leave it wide open on a
  counter, your desk, or on the floor?
• DO YOU put your wallet in a jacket, which then
  you hang up or throw over a chair?
• DO YOU let your mind wander-thinking about your
  job, or all the things you have to do-when
  walking or driving?
• DO YOU think it is a waste of time to lock your
  car when you will be back in a few minutes?

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KNOWLEDGE IS THE BEST PROTECTION

• The most important protection you can have
  against violent crime
• is knowing how to avoid it
• and how to maximize your personal safety in the
  event of crime.

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THREE BASIC RULES

• 1) STAY ALERT
• 2) STAND TALL AND WALK CONFIDENTLY
• 3) TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
• Dont feel embarrassed or shy about protecting
  your personal safety.
• IF you dont, who will?

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BASIC STREET SENSE

• Whenever you are on the street, in an office
  building or shopping mall, driving, waiting for a
  ride or a bus-stay alert and tuned to your
  surroundings.
• Stay on well-lit, well-traveled streets. Avoid
  known trouble spots. Take the long way if it is
  safer.
• Dont overburden yourself with packages and
  groceries that make it hard to react.
• If you carry a purse, carry it close to your body
  and keep a firm grip on it. Wallets should be
  carried in an inside coat or side pants pocket,
  NOT a rear pants pocket. Be prepared to let go
  of your purse if snatched, otherwise you could be
  knocked down and hurt.
• Always have emergency money for cab fare or a
  telephone call.
• If you are being followed by someone on foot,
  cross the street and head for the nearest
  well-lighted, populated area. Walk quickly or
  run to a house or store to call the police. If
  you are scared, scream for help.
• Know your neighborhood. Where are the police and
  fire stations? Find out what stores and
  restaurants are open late.
• Dont flash large amounts of cash or other
  tempting targets like expensive jewelry or
  clothing.
• Have to work late? Make sure there are others in
  the building and ask someone-a colleague or
  security-to walk you to your car.
• Have your house keys in your hand before you
  reach to door.
• Never carry a weapon unless you have been trained
  to use it. It can easily be turned against you.

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DRIVING

• Keep your car in good running condition to avoid
  breakdowns. Make sure there is enough gas to get
  where you are going and back.
• Always roll up the windows and lock your doors,
  even if you are coming right back. Check inside
  and out before you get back in your car.
• Do not leave purses or briefcases on the seats,
  try to hide them or put them on the floor or in
  the trunk.
• Avoid parking in isolated areas. Be especially
  alert in lots and underground parking garages.
• If you think someone is following you, do not
  head home. Drive to the nearest police or fire
  station, gas station, or other open business to
  get help. If no safe areas are near, honk the
  horn repeatedly and turn on your emergency
  flashers.
• Do not pick up hitchhikers!
• If you see another motorist in trouble, signal
  that you will get help and then telephone the
  police for assistance.
• If your car breaks down, raise the hood, use
  flares. Stay in the locked car. When someone
  stops to help, ask them to call the police.
• Have your keys ready when approaching your
  vehicle to reduce the time needed to enter.
• When stopped in traffic or at a traffic
  light/sign, allow space between you and the
  vehicle in front of you so you can drive away, if
  necessary.
• Many people consider a cellular telephone to be a
  good investment for safety.

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OFFICE SAFETY/SECURITY

• Keep your purse, wallet, keys, and other
  valuables with you at all times or locked in a
  drawer or closet.
• Do not leave valuables unsecured on desk tops or
  counter tops.
• Do not bring excessive amounts of cash to work.
• Check the identity of any strangers who are in
  your office.
• Always let someone know where you are, whether
  its coming in late, working late, going to the
  copier or mail room, going to lunch or a meeting.
• If you bring personal items to work, use
  Operation ID and mark them with your
  name/initials and an identification number. For
  more information, contact the University Police.
• Report any broken or flickering lights, dimly lit
  corridors, doors that dont lock properly or
  broken windows.
• Do not leave deliveries, equipment, or supplies
  in the hallway for extended periods of time or
  overnight.
• If you leave work or go out to lunch, ask a
  co-worker to watch your desk. Volunteer to do
  the same.
• Lock your officer or desk when you leave, even if
  it is just for a second.

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ANNOYING, MALICIOUS, HARASSING TELEPHONE CALLS

• HANG UP! If the caller doesnt speak, is
  obscene, asks inappropriate questions or you
  simply do not feel comfortable, hang up the
  phone. Do no slam the receiver down, this only
  lets the caller know you are upset and may
  encourage them to call back.
• DONT TALK TO STRANGER! If the caller asks who
  is this? or what number have I reached? do not
  give them an answer. Instead, ask, who do you
  want? or what number were you calling? Under
  no circumstances should you give the names of
  others living with you to someone who doesnt
  already know them.
• If you have children, instruct them not to talk
  to strangers on the phone. Burglars and other
  criminals will sometimes attempt to obtain useful
  information from unsuspecting children. Teach
  them to ask for the callers name and a phone
  number.
• KEEP COOL! Dont let the caller know you are
  angry or upset. That is exactly what they want.

• DONT PLAY DETECTIVE! Dont extend the call
  attempting to figure out who is the caller.
• DONT BE CLEVER! A witty response may be
  interpreted as a sign of encouragement.
• DONT TRY TO BE A COUNSELOR! The obscene of
  malicious caller probably needs professional
  help, but he/she may only be encouraged to call
  back by your concerns.
• PLACE ADS WITH CAUTION! Crank callers are often
  avid readers of classified ads.
• REPORT ANNOYING, OBSCENE, AND MALICIOUS PHONE
  CALLS TO THE UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
  IMMEDIATELY!

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SAFETY TIPS FOR JOGGERS/WALKERS

• Plan your outing. Tell someone where you are
  going and when you will return.
• Jog, walk, or run with a known companion.
• Jog, walk, or run in a familiar area.
• Do not jog, walk or run in a heavily wooded, poor
  lighted or secluded area.
• If alone, do not wear radio or cassette recorder
  headphones.
• Do not jog, walk, or run after dark.
• Do not jog, walk, or run near bushes which can
  provide concealment.
• Wear bright clothing to improve visibility.
• Vary your route and pattern.
• Consider carrying a cellular phone.
• Do not wear jewelry or carry cash.
• Carry identification.
• Run against traffic so you can observe
  approaching vehicles.
• Be careful if anyone asks you for directions.
• Report any suspicious people or activity to the
  police.

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STALKING

• WHAT IS STALKING?
• Stalking is the act of a person, who on more than
  one occasion, follows, pursues or harasses
  another person and by actively engaging in a
  pattern of conduct, causes the victim to believe
  the offender will cause physical harm or mental
  distress to them.
• Patterns of conduct two or more actions or
  incidents closely related in time, whether or not
  there has been prior convictions based on any of
  those actions or incidents.
• Mental distress any mental illness or
  condition that involves some temporary
  substantial incapability or condition that would
  normally require psychiatric treatment.

• WHY DO STALKERS TARGET?
• Anyone can be targeted by a stalker. Often,
  stalkers, are former spouses or partners. A
  stalker may target a public figure or celebrity,
  a child, a casual acquaintance or a complete
  stranger.
• Victims have said that stalking had changed the
  way they live their lives. A stalker may intrude
  by following a victim to and from home, work, or
  social activities. A stalker sometimes intrudes
  by watching the victims home, making harassing
  telephone calls or sending threatening mail.

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STALKING (CONTINUED)

• WHAT ARE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSES INVOLVED?
• A person commits stalking when he or she,
  knowingly and without lawful justification, on at
  least two separate occasions, follows another
  person or places the person under surveillance or
  any combination, there of and
• 1) at any time transmits a threat to that
  person of immediate or future bodily harm, sexual
  assault, confinement or restraint or
• 2) places that person in reasonable
  apprehension of immediate or future bodily harm,
  sexual assault, confinement, or restraint.
• Stalking is a Class 4 felony. A second or
  subsequent conviction for stalking is a class 3
  felony. Class 4 felony sentence shall be not
  less than 1 year and not more than 3 years and up
  to 25,000 fine.

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STALKING (CONTINUED)

• WHAT SHOULD A VICTIM DO?
• Notify the Police. This is the first thing the
  victim should do.
• Maintain a Record. A detailed record of each
  encounter with the stalker should be kept
  dates, locations, words spoken, actions taken
  during and afterwards, and the names of any
  witnesses. This will also help the victim if
  he/she needs to testify in court.
• Seek an Order of Protection. Temporary or
  emergency orders of protection are court orders
  intended to keep the stalker away from the victim
  by making it illegal to com in contact with the
  victim.

• PREVENTION TIPS
• The victim should have a cellular phone.
• The victim should be very careful about locking
  their motor vehicle and be sure no one is hidden
  in the vehicle before entering it.
• Depending on the circumstances, the Police may
  provide escort services to the victim on campus.
• The victim should avoid walking alone in the dark
  areas at night or in isolated areas any time of
  the day.
• The victim may want to change the locks on their
  home or apartment.
• The victim should not carry a deadly weapon of
  any type!

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ATTACKED
GET A DESCRIPTION. Look at your
attacker carefully and note any characteristics
that will help with an accurate
description, including sex, age, height, weight,
race, hair, eye color, glasses, tattoos, scars,
or piercing.
CALL THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY! Give them your name
and location. If you have witnessed a crime,
stay with the victim until police arrived.
STAY CALM. Try not to panic or show signs of
anger of confusion. Dont resist and give up any
property the attacker wants.
FIGHTING BACK IS RISKY. If you decide to fight
back, use all your strength and try
to incapacitating the attacker so you can run
away.
FOCUS ON ESCAPE. Your first concern should be to
get away from the assailant. Do not run into
a deserted area or alley.
NEVER CHASE YOUR ATTACKER. This can cause
the situation to become more violent.
MINIMIZE INJURY. If you are physically attacked
and cannot defend yourself, minimize your
injuries by lying on the ground with your
knees tucked up against your stomach and cover
your head with your arms.
IMMEDIATELY CANCEL CREDIT CARDS, PHONE CARDS,
AND BANK CARDS. It is a good idea to keep a list
at home containing the account number(s)
and telephone numbers of all card companies.
This will make canceling them quicker and easier.
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TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

• If you suspect something is wrong, or a situation
  seems dangerous, you may be right!
• Dont dismiss suspicious people, cars, or
  situations. Report them to the University Police
  immediately.

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BE ALERT!

• REMEMBER TO STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR SURROUNDINGS.
• DONT GET DISTRACTED.

AVOID DANGEROUS SITUATIONS
DONT INVITE TROUBLE. USE YOUR BEST JUDGEMENT
ABOUT WHERE YOU GO AND WHAT YOU DO.
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• WORK WITH THE
• POLICE!
• People
• working
• together
• can
• prevent
• and
• solve
• many
• crimes.

• SEND THE RIGHT
• MESSAGE!
• Walk with confidence

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SIUE POLICE DEPARTMENTGeneral Information

• TELEPHONES NUMBERS
• Emergency 9-1-1
• Non-emergency 650-3324
• Fax [phone]
• WEB SITES
• SIUE Police Department web site
  http//www.siue.edu/POLICE
• Student Right To Know web site
  http//admin.siue.edu/studentrightto
• E-MAIL
• University Police Department
  police_at_siue.edu