Crime Prevention Tips

• Don’t leave belongings unattended.
• Don’t prop doors.
• Avoid walking or running alone at night.
• Use the buddy system or call Public Safety for an escort.
• Stay in well-lit areas as much as possible.
• Stay alert. Walk confidently, directly, at a steady pace.
• Walk on the side of the street facing traffic.
• Look both ways before crossing the road.
• Theft of unattended backpacks and laptops is common. If you're leaving for a minute, take your things with you.
• Know the locations of Emergency Blue Light Phones.
• Never work alone in an office or classroom on campus at night. 
• Arrange a buddy system with someone you work or study with.
• Have your car or residence key in hand.
• Consider using well-vetted ride-sharing services (Uber/ Lyft) over accepting a ride from someone under the influence or a casual acquaintance.
• Trust your instincts – if someone makes you uncomfortable, walk to a well-populated area.
• Don't let unauthorized people "tailgate" through card access controlled doors.
• Try to use ATMs during daylight hours. Have your card ready and don't let anyone look you’re your shoulder when you enter your personal information.
• Share your network phone numbers with class/activities schedule with parents and close friends.

• Use a good U-lock to lock your bicycle. U-Locks are available for purchase in the Thomas Jefferson University Bookstore.
• Always lock your bicycle! Bicycles should be locked to a fixed object and never lock it to itself. DO NOT secure bicycles to benches, light posts, trees, chains/post borders, handrails, or bus shelters.
• If you leave your bicycle outside, choose a well-lit, heavily traveled location.
• Register your bicycle in person at the front desk of the Gallagher Center during normal business hours. In the event your bike is lost or stolen, Athletics will have a complete record to immediately provide to Public Safety and other law enforcement agencies. We highly recommend U-Locks, which are available in the bookstore. Should you lose your key or forget your combination, let Public Safety know and we can assist in cutting your lock off.
• Find out if your bicycle is covered under your parents' insurance policy. If not, it would be advisable to insure it.
• Always wear a helmet. Protect the investment - YOU!

• When leaving your vehicle, be certain your doors are locked and windows are completely rolled up.
• Check your surroundings and car interior before opening your car door.
• Have your keys in hand so you don't have to linger before getting in, especially at night.
• Keep packages and valuables out of sight in your vehicle either under a seat, in the glove box, or in the trunk.
• Never leave your vehicle running when unattended.
• Park in well-lit areas near other vehicles or in highly populated areas.
• Do not mark your key chain with your name, address, and license number. Lost keys can lead a thief to your car or home.
• Keep a spare key, but not under or in the vehicle itself.
• Make a copy of your insurance, vehicle identification number (VIN), and registration information.
• For more information about parking on campus or obtaining a parking permit please more information on our Parking and Transportation pages.
  

• Lock all doors when the office is empty.
• Lock all valuables in a desk or closet when unattended, especially after hours.
• Do not leave purses or wallets unattended.
• Avoid keeping large amounts of petty cash in the office.
• Report all solicitors to Public Safety immediately.
• Do not allow any workers or contractors into your space until they have permission.
• Question visitors who wander through your office. Legitimate guests will appreciate your offer of assistance and would be solicitors or thieves will be deterred.
• Keep blinds closed after hours where such valuables as computers, TV monitors, etc. are visible from the outside.
• Report all persons’ suspicious behavior or improperly secured area to Public Safety immediately.

• Keep the door(s) to your room and windows locked at all times.
• Do not prop your room door or any exterior door.
• Do not let guests into the building through any door other than the main entrance.
• Guests must be checked in through the proper procedures. This is for the guests’ protection as well as the protection of the other residents.
• Report any unescorted person or stranger at once. You do not need to contact a staff member prior to calling Public Safety immediately.
• Report defective campus locks or windows and doors immediately.
• Never sleep in an unlocked room.
• Do not keep your room or residence and vehicle keys on the same ring.
• If you lose your ID or keys to your room/hall report it immediately.
• Keep your valuables out of sight and not in plain view of a window- i.e. televisions, jewelry, computers, electronics, etc.
• Don't leave things in the laundry room unattended.
• Do not keep large sums of cash in your room or residence.
• Do not study in poorly lit or secluded areas.
• Do not prop interior fire doors or use fire exit doors, as it is in violation of the fire code.
  

• Do not book a room on the ground floor
• Always pull your room door closed behind you.
• Keep the door(s) to your room locked at all times.
• Do not prop your room door with the latch or any other item.
• Do not open the door to strangers.
• Familiarize yourself with the emergency exits, fire towers, and stairwells.
• Use the hotel safe or private safe in your room
• Always use a VPN when you are using public Wi-Fi, including the hotels.
• Never provide personal information over the phone.
• Ensure you know the hotel name, street address, and phone number (put it in your phone).
• After dark make sure to use the hotel’s main entrance.
• Always be aware of your surroundings when walking alone from the hotel parking lot.
• Do not leave cash, credit cards, jewelry, or other valuable items sitting out in your room when you leave.

• Keep the door(s) to your residence and windows locked at all times.
• Never sleep in an unlocked house.
• Make sure all exterior lights are working properly and on at night.
• Do not put your name or address on key rings.
• Do not keep your residence and vehicle keys on the same ring.
• Do not post pictures of yourself on vacation until you get home – otherwise, you are announcing your absence and welcoming a thief to an empty residence.
• If you are going away, have a friend pick up your mail and deliveries. Leaving newspapers or packages unattended and piling up on your doorstep will signal that no one is home.
• Keep your valuables out of sight and not in plain view of a window- i.e. televisions, jewelry, computers, electronics, etc.
• Do not keep large sums of cash in your room or residence.
• If you lose the keys to your residence, have the lock(s) changed.
• Require callers to identify themselves before opening your door.
• “Peepholes” are always a good feature when looking for a residence.

Individual identity theft is at an all-time high and major companies have seen their confidential client and employee files hacked and exposed. In many of these cases, it is simply a lack of awareness. You can help reduce the risk of becoming a victim by managing your personal information wisely, cautiously, and with an awareness of the potential ramifications of not doing so.

• Secure Your Online Data
• Before revealing personal identifying information, find out how your personal information will be used and if will be shared with others.
• Create Strong Passwords
• Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry.
• Stop Pre-Approved Credit Card Offers
• If your ID or wallet has been stolen, notify the creditors by phone immediately. 
• Contact the credit bureaus and ask that a fraud alert be placed in your file.
• Cancel your credit cards immediately.
• Monitor your credit
• Order a copy of your credit report twice a year. 
• Make sure it is accurate and includes only the activities you have authorized.
• Making false telephone solicitations
• Do not give your Social Security number to anyone over the phone
• Trash
• Whether bagged on the sidewalk or tossed into a dumpster, your trash can be a target of any thief who wants it badly enough.  A potential gold mine of personal information trash can provide the same type of information that your mailbox contains.
• Keep Your Personal Documents Safe
• Consider a professionally installed, monitored home security system.
• Invest in a safe or strongbox and consider using a secure mailbox.
• Never carry a 'cheat sheet' containing your passwords, PIN, or bank account numbers.