Personal Safety Suggestions

When in the hall:

• Get to know your neighbors so you can help each other out.
• Don't leave valuable items out in the open.
• Don’t advertise that you will not be in your room for extended periods of time.
• You are responsible for your guests and their actions.
• Always lock your door whenever you leave, even if it is just for a moment.
• Do not tamper with any locking mechanisms anywhere.

Walking alone:

• Use well-traveled, well-lit routes.
• Avoid using the same route every day.
• Be sure to carry only small amounts of money.
• Carry a noise making device, such as a whistle.
• Wear clothes that allow you to move quickly.
• Be observant of your surroundings at all times.

What constitutes suspicious activity:

• Anyone trying to jump a fence or gate.
• Anyone seen perpetrating acts of vandalism.
• Anyone seen harassing or heckling others.
• Anyone walking through halls trying door knobs.
• Anyone sitting in parked vehicles for extended periods of time or driving slowly with their lights off.
• Anyone loitering at strange hours or locations.

Bike Security:

• Always lock your bike through the wheels and the frame.
• Cable and Chain locks will only discourage opportunistic thieves.
• The best way to protect your bike from theft would be to  properly use a U-lock and a strong cable lock.
• Riding your bike often and relocking it in a different place is a good way to prevent it from being “scouted” by a bike thief.
• Park your bike in well-lit areas public places.
• Register your bike with the ASU Police to help them find it if it gets stolen.

Vehicle Security:

• Park in well-lit areas at night.
• Don’t park in the same spot every night.
• Don’t take the same route to your car every day.
• Always keep all doors locked and windows shut when parked or even stopped.
• Keep all valuable items out of sight in your car, preferably in the trunk.
• Keep an emergency repair kit in your car in case of breakdowns.

Public Transportation:

• Wait at well-lit bus stops
• Be aware of your surroundings while waiting for the bus.
• Let the bus driver know of suspicious activity or harassment on the bus.
• If it appears someone from the bus is following you, make yourself as visible as possible to others by making noise.
• ASU Parking & Transportation
• Valley Metro

What to do when feeling threatened:

• Analyze your situation before you act.
• Always move away from potential threats; do not be confrontational.
• Make your way to one of the many blue light Emergency 9-1-1 phones on campus.
• If possible, find a group of people to join when you move away from the threat.
• If you believe you cannot escape a threat, make as much noise as possible to alert someone nearby that you are in danger,
• When speaking to the police or a university official, be prepared to give accurate descriptions of the suspect: height, weight, gender, age, clothing, etc., the scene of the crime or attempted crime, and the details of the suspect’s escape: description of vehicle or bike (make, model, license plate number, color, etc.), direction of escape, etc.

In Elevators:

• Look in the elevator before getting in to make sure no one is hiding.
• Stand near the controls if possible.
• If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, get off at the next floor.
• If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable while waiting for the elevator with someone, do not get on with that person.
• If you are attacked in the elevator, hit the alarm buttons and as many other buttons as possible.
• Remember that there are cameras in every elevator on campus.
• Do not overcrowd or “stuff” elevators beyond their carrying capacity or beyond the comfort level of everyone on the elevator.

Online Social Networking:

• Remember that anything you put on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, or any other site can be seen by anyone with an internet connection.
• Do not put your address, residence hall, room number, contact information, etc. on your personal page.
• Do not put anything you would not want your family or boss seeing on your personal page.