Personal Safety Tips

  1. Stay alert and tuned in to your surroundings, wherever you are. Don't be taken by surprise. Be aware and be prepared.
  2. Stand tall and walk confidently. Don't show fear. Don't look like a victim.
  3. Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in a place or situation, leave right away and get help if necessary.

On Foot
  1. Choose busy streets and avoid going through vacant lots, alleys, or other deserted areas. At night, walk in well-lit areas whenever possible.
  2. Try not to walk or jog alone. Take a friend or neighbor along for company.
  3. Get to know the neighborhoods and neighbors where you live and work.
  4. Carry your purse close to your body and keep a firm grip on it. Avoid pickpockets by carrying your wallet in an inside coat pocket or front trouser pocket.

In Your Car
  1. Always lock your car and take the keys, even if you'll be gone only a short time.
  2. Keep your car in good running condition, and keep the gas tank at least one quarter full at all times.
  3. Lock your doors while driving.
  4. If your car breaks down, raise the hood and place emergency reflectors or flares to the rear of your car, to warn other motorist of the hazard. Then stay in the locked car. When someone stops to help, don't get out. Ask him or her, through a closed or cracked window, to telephone the police to come and help.
  5. If you're coming or going after dark, park in a well-lit area that will still be well-lit when you return.
  6. Be especially alert when using enclosed parking garages. Don't walk into an area if you feel uncomfortable.
  7. Leave only your ignition key with a parking attendant. Don't leave your house key, garage door opener, or other important items in your car.
  8. Never pick up hitchhikers.
  9. Keep track of your keys. Never leave an identification tag on your key ring. If your keys are lost or stolen, it could help a thief locate your car and burglarize your home.
  10. If carrying packages or valuable items, store them in your trunk if possible. If you do leave packages, clothing, or other articles in the car make sure they are out of sight.
  11. Keep your car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and a complete description in a safe place at home. Since 1969, the federal government has required manufactures to engrave a unique number, the VIN, on all passenger cars in one visible and several hidden locations. One VIN is engraved on a metal plate on the dashboard near the windshield. VIN’s of stolen cars are registered with the FBI’s National Crime Information Center.
  12. License plates are frequently stolen from cars and used in other crimes. Get in the habit of checking your plates when you drive. A few drops of solder on the bolts or blurring the threads can help safeguard your plates.
  13. Keep the following information in a safe location:
    • Year, Make, Model
    • Color
    • ID # or VIN
    • License #
    • Identifying Marks
    • Insurance Company and Policy #

When Using Public Transportation
  1. When using the bus, be sure to have your fare out and ready before you leave home, the office or the store.
  2. Plan your route to use the busiest, best-lit stop possible, both to get on and off the bus. If you must wait, stay near the attendant’s stand or in the best-lit area available.
  3. Keep your purse, shopping bag, backpack, packages, etc., in your lap, on your arm, or between your feet – not by themselves on an empty seat.
  4. Sit near the driver, but not right next to the door.
  5. Don't let yourself doze off on a bus. It can make you an easy target.

ATM Machine
  1. Try to plan your visits to the ATM during the day, rather than after dark.
  2. Choose an ATM location that is in a busy, public place. Avoid making withdrawals in isolated areas.
  3. If at all possible, take along a friend who can watch the surroundings while you are conducting your transactions.
  4. Pre-plan your transaction carefully, and don't spend too much time at the machine.
  5. When you make a withdrawal, quickly place the money in your purse or wallet and leave as soon as you finish your transaction.
  6. Watch out for suspicious-looking people waiting around an ATM – they may not really be customers. If someone offers to let you go ahead of them, decline politely and leave.
  7. When visiting a drive-through ATM, keep your doors locked and be prepared to drive away quickly. If anyone approaches your car on foot, roll up your window and drive off.
  8. If you have not finished your transaction, and you are approached by a suspicious person, press the CANCEL button, remove your card and leave quickly.