Don't be a walking target! 

• Always walk in groups or request an escort especially at night. 
• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that will allow easy movement. 
• Plan your destination. Be sure to stay in highly-travelled and well-lit areas. 
• Be alert to your surroundings and watch for possible hiding places. Stay clear of large shrubs. 
• Carry only necessary cash and minimal credit cards. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.  
• Trust your instincts! If something or someone doesn't look right to you or makes you feel uneasy, immediately report the activity to Public Safety. 

• Always remember to lock your car and remove the keys. 
• Lock all your valuables in the trunk or leave them at home. Don't leave valuables in plain view. 
• Park in a lighted area if you'll be returning to your vehicle after dark. 
• Record the license plate number and Vehicle Identification Number (found on a metal strip on the driver's side low window corner). Keep the numbers in a safe place.
• Check into anti-theft devices (i.e. Club, alarm, Lo-Jack.). Any prevention is helpful. 

Thieves are opportunists. They search for the most favorable circumstances to commit crimes. If they don't find an easy target, they usually move on to another location. Purse and wallet thieves are successful when people leave their personal possessions unattended. Often this happens in libraries and offices. The best way to avoid becoming a victim of theft is to remove the opportunity for thieves to steal. Consider... 

• What you would lose if your purse or wallet were taken. 
• What the loss or items of personal value would mean (e.g. important papers, keepsakes, address books, family photos). 
• That a thief may only want your money (and sometimes credit cards and checkbook), but in case of identity theft, you might lose everything. 
• Carrying only the minimum amount of credit cards, money, and other items necessary for daily use. 

• Keep your purse or backpack with you at all times wherever you may be. 
• Secure your purse in a locked desk or filing cabinet in your office. Lock your office door when you leave it unoccupied. 
• Report suspicious persons to Public Safety Department (714) 997-6763. 
• Coordinate with your co-workers to ensure office security. 

• Sleep in a library. 
• Leave your possessions unattended or your office unsecured. A theft only takes a few seconds. 
• Keep your bank machine access code with your wallet. 
• Carry large amounts of cash in your wallet or purse. 

• Do not attempt to confront a thief by yourself. 
• Be polite but assertive. 
• Remove yourself from the confrontation to a safe place. 
• Call the police and give a description of the incident, suspect and location. 
• In residence life area contact RA's or RD's for assistance. 

Bicycle owners should use a sturdy, good quality U-Lock. This kind of lock is sold in the bookstore or any store. Although cable locks are most frequently used, they do not provide adequate security. (By the time you finish reading this sentence, your cable lock has been cut and your bicycle has been stolen.) Most bicycles that are stolen here at Chapman are bicycles that have been poorly secured with poor quality locks and/or have been improperly secured. Here are some suggestions: 

• When locking your bicycle, lock both wheels and the frame to the bicycle rack when you park. Leave as little space as possible inside the U-Lock to minimize the space for thieves to insert their tools. 
• Position your lock with the key mechanism facing the ground. 
• Lock components and accessories. 
• Take your bike seat with you. 
• Lock your bike in a well lighted area. 
• Don't lock your bike in the same area all the time. A thief may notice a pattern and target your bike (especially important for commuter and students). 
• Don't lock your bike to itself (the front wheel lock to the frame). It can be easily carried away. 
• Don't position your lock low to the ground. A thief can attack the lock easier and less obviously in that position. 
• Double check your lock before leaving your bike to make sure its secured. 

Safety While Driving 

• Have keys out ready to unlock the car door and be able to enter without delay
• Check the back seat of your vehicle before you get in and floorboard even if doors are locked. 
• Once inside your vehicle, lock the doors. Keep them locked while driving.
• Park in highly visible & well lighted areas and be mindful of suspicious persons.  
• Keep your vehicle in good condition. Regular maintainence helps prevent sudden breakdowns which may lead to being stranded in an unfamiliar place.
• Make sure your vehicle has enough fuel to get to your destination. 
• Know how to get to your destination before hand. This will help you avoid getting lost. 
• Do not stop for stranded motorist. Instead, go to the nearest phone booth and call police for assistance. 
• Do not pick up hitchhikers. 
• If you suspect someone is following you, do not drive home. Drive to the nearest public place, police or fire station. 
• If your vehicle breaks down, raise the hood or attach a handkerchief to the door handle or antenna, and stay in the vehicle with the doors locked. If a motorist stops to offer assistance, roll down the window slightly and ask the person to call for assistance. 
• If you're involved in an accident, pullover in a well-lit, safe and populated area. 
• Never leave house keys attached with car keys when leaving your car at repair shops or parking lots. 

• Keep your eyes and ears open for possible crime and call Public Safety immediately. 
• Watch for strange cars or people that appear to be cruising the area. 
• Watch for any person(s) who are threatening to you or anyone else. 
• Watch for people in isolated areas who seem to be hanging around waiting for an opportunity. 
• Listen for screams of "Help! Fire!" or "Police!". Try to determine direction. 
• Listen for explosions, gunshots or shattering glass. Try to determine direction. 
• Watch for any person(s) who seem to have no purpose in the area. 
• Someone running from a car or home could either be A) someone who just commited a crime or B) a victim running from a crime. 
• Listen for any unusual or suspicious noise that you cannot explain, such as breaking glass, pounding, sound of gunfire, or a dog barking aggressively. 
• Watch for business transactions conducted from a vehicle. This could involve the sale of drugs or stolen goods. 
• Be aware of strangers carrying property from a residence or closed business. 
• Watch for strangers entering a neighbor's home in an unusual manner (through a window, the door, breaking a window, etc.) or going into the backyard of the home especially when the neighbor is not at home. 
• Any strange vehicle(s) parked in the neighbor's driveway or on the street. 
• Be aware of suspicious vehicles with someone sitting inside. 
• Be aware of abandoned vehicles. They may possibly be stolen cars. 
• Watch for persons attempting to forcibly enter a locked vehicle, especially at night.
• Listen for burglar alarm sounding from a vehicle or residence. 
• A lot of pedestrian traffic to and from a certain residence on a daily or very regular basis especially all hours of the day and night may possibly mean that there is drug-selling activity. 

• Public Safety Department: 997-6763 for non-emergencies or 911 for emergencies.
• Emergency red ringdown phones on main campus and in the Resident Life areas. 
• Pay telephone: 911 (no coins needed) 

• Remain calm.
• Get as much information about the suspicious activity as possible and write it down. 
• Call the Public Safety Department at (714) 997-6763. 
• Describe as briefly as possible: what, where, when, how, and who. 
• Allow the dispatcher to ask questions and direct the conversation. 
• Do not hang up until directed to do so by the dispatcher! 

Remember, crime prevention is everyone's responsibility!