Keeping Safe on Campus: Tips for Faculty, Staff

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Keeping Safe on CampusTips for Faculty, Staff
Students

• John Sloan
• Department of Justice Sciences

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Keeping Safe on Campus

• Strategies All can use to reduce Victimization
  Efforts (SAVE)
• Reality Check
• Understanding the dynamics of the UAB campus
• Adjacent to several residential neighborhoods,
  some of which are in transition and a major
  entertainment district (5 Points South)
• Relatively open with ease of access to buildings,
  green space, parking lots, AND YOU

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Keeping Safe on Campus
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Keeping Safe on Campus
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Keeping Safe on Campus

• Not all crime is preventable, but there are
  things you can do to make it much less likely
  that you'll be victimized
• Most important is this exercise common sense

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Keeping Safe on Campus

• When youre going out
• Plan where you are going and how youll get there
  BEFORE you leave
• Take only the money you will need and spread it
  around (e.g., keep some in your wallet, some in
  your pants pocket, some in your jacket pocket)
• Do not flash a wad of cash!
• Buy a cell phone and keep it with you program
  911 in speed dial
• Keep your money, mobile phone, and keys in front
  pockets so they cant be grabbed
• If you can, tell someone where youre going and
  when youll be back

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Keeping Safe on Campus

• If you have one, keep a personal attack alarm
  with you keep it where you can easily reach it
• Oh, make sure you know how to use it

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Keeping Safe on Campus

• While youre out
• Walk around with friends or someone you know (try
  to stay in a group)
• Act like you know where you are going and how to
  get there
• Keep away from quiet, dark places
• Wear your bag across your body or under your coat
• Keep your bag with you at all times
• Do not carry all your money and important things
  in one bag
• If you use a wheelchair, think about where would
  be the safest place to carry your bag
• Do not get into a car with someone you dont know

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Keeping Safe on Campus

• When parking
• DO NOT leave anything of value in view (e.g.,
  radar detectors, satellite radio receivers, etc.)
  or on the seats (e.g., backpacks, briefcases,
  etc.)
• Park in as well lighted a lot as possible or at
  least a lot where other cars are parked and there
  are people around
• BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS
• TAKE YOUR CAR KEYS WITH YOU!

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Keeping Safe on Campus

• While in your office
• Do not leave valuables out in the open (e.g.,
  purses -- dont get me started on THAT item!)
• BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS
• Report suspicious persons to the UAB police
• Lock desk drawers when leaving your desk and TAKE
  YOUR PURSE WITH YOU

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Keeping Safe on Campus

• Lets review
• Reality Check UABs campus is NOT a war zone
  where violence is common
• UAB IS, however, located adjacent to
  neighborhoods and entertainment districts which
  draw people to them
• UAB is also relatively wide open which means a
  reasonable amount of caution should be exercised
  when you are walking around

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Keeping Safe on Campus

• When youre going out for the evening, do some
  planning
• While youre out, exercise common sense stay in
  groups avoid dark, quiet areas keep a cell
  phone with you that has 911 on speed dial

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Keeping Safe on Campus

• When you park, DO NOT leave valuables in plain
  view, on the seats, etc.
• When at work, DO NOT leave valuables in plain
  view