Amherst College Police

Recommended Safe Practices

• Part 1: Protect Yourself
  • What you Can Do
  • Residence Halls and Private Residence
  • Walking
  • Athletic Facilities
    • In the women's locker room
  • Elevators
  • Driving
• Part 2: Protect Your Property
  • Residence Halls and Private Residences
  • Offices and Laboratories
  • Motor Vehicles
  • Bicycles
• Also see: Emergency Phone Locations and Blue Light Map

Protect Yourself

What You Can Do

Your involvement is essential to the prevention of crime on campus. Disinterest and complacency are the prime contributors to the success of crime. The burden of crime prevention rests not only with the Campus Police but also with each member of the Amherst College community.

Campus Police cannot be everywhere at once. Campus Police, therefore, are dependent upon you to recognize and report incidents of suspicious and criminal activity. The extent of your cooperation will greatly influence Campus Police's effectiveness in combating crime. Doing your part means:

1. Being Aware of your vulnerability and following the suggestions outlined in this pamphlet to protect yourself and your property.
2. Being Alert for suspicious or criminal activity and conditions that may represent a hazard to the community.
3. Getting involved by becoming more security conscious and by reporting all incidents of suspicious or criminal activity, no matter how insignificant they appear, to Campus Police immediately.
4. Remember that unreported crimes cannot be solved and that, by not reporting crimes, you allow the perpetrators to commit additional and perhaps more serious crimes.

Many times crime solving depends upon how accurately and promptly the incident is reported. It is important that you be able to provide as much of the following information as possible:

1. Nature of the incident.
2. When the incident occurred.
3. Where the incident occurred.
4. Persons involved (names, sex, race, age, height, hair style/color complexion, distinctive characteristics, i.e., facial features, scars, physical defects, glasses, clothing, etc).
5. Direction and method of travel.
6. Vehicles involved (color, type, make, model, license plate number and state, distinctive characteristics, i.e., decals, bumper stickers, damage, number of occupants, etc.).
7. Description of stolen property (item, manufacturer, model number, serial number, value, color, dimensions, etc.).

Residence Halls and Private Residences

1. Keep the door(s) to your residence and windows accessible from the outside locked at all times.
2. Report defective locks on windows and doors IMMEDIATELY to the Physical Plant Service Desk (542)-2254.
3. NEVER sleep in an unlocked room or house.
4. Do not put your name and address on key rings.
5. Do not keep your residence and vehicle keys on the same ring.
6. If you lose the keys to your residence, have the lock(s) changed. On campus residents should notify Campus Police immediately. For a fee, arrangements can be made to have your locks changed.
7. Women living alone should not use prefixes "Ms.", "Miss" or "Mrs." on their doors or mailboxes. Instead, use the first initial and last name. This is also advisable for telephone directory listings.
8. Do not study in poorly lit, secluded areas.
9. Require visitors to identify themselves before you open your door. Off-campus residents should require official identification from all repair or service personnel.
10. Do not let strangers in to use your telephone. Direct them to a public telephone.
11. If you receive obscene or harassing telephone calls or several calls with no one on the other end, immediately notify Campus Police and the College Operator (college housing) or the town police (private residences).
12. If you find that your room has been entered, DO NOT GO INSIDE. Go to a neighbor and call Campus Police (college housing) or the town police (private residences). If you are already inside, DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING. You may disturb evidence that is important to police investigation.
13. If you are awakened by an intruder in your room, do not try to apprehend him. He may be armed or may easily arm himself with something inside the room. If he appears to pose an immediate threat, get out of the room, if he does not, common sense may dictate pretending you are still asleep.
14. If you see a suspicious person or vehicle on campus or in your neighborhood, IMMEDIATELY contact Campus Police or town police. Try to get the license plate number.
15. Students in private residences should consider installing "peep holes" and "intruder chains" on outside doors. Also, if returning after dark, leave a light on at the entrance to your residence.
16. Students in residence halls may already have "peep holes" installed. If so, USE THEM! If not, you may request one from the Physical Plant Department.
17. Students living in campus housing are advised against blocking open the entrance to dormitories or other College buildings.
18. Be cautious when using bathroom facilities when there is no one else around, particularly at night.

Walking

1. Avoid traveling alone at night.
2. Confine walking to well-lit, regularly traveled walks and pathways. Avoid short cuts and keep away from shrubbery, bushes, alleyways, or any other areas where an assailant might be lurking.
3. Avoid the athletic fields, tennis courts and bird sanctuary after dark.
4. Use caution while walking through the bird sanctuary during the daylight hours.
5. Do not hitchhike or accept rides from casual acquaintances.
6. When walking to your vehicle or residence, have your keys ready in hand.
7. When being dropped off at your residence by taxi or private vehicle, ask the driver to wait until you get inside.
8. If threatened by an approaching vehicle, run in the opposite direction. The vehicle will have to turn around before being able to follow.
9. When getting out of a car at a public convenience (phone, rest stop, etc.), take a look around to make sure that you are not being followed.
10. If you think you are being followed, cross the street and if necessary, keep crossing back and forth. If you are pursued, call for help and run to a lighted business or residence; enlist the aid of a passerby; flag down a passing motorist; or, as a last resort, break a window in a residence or pull a fire alarm. Do anything that might attract attention or summon assistance. If you are walking alone and someone passes you, check to be sure that person has continued walking in the other direction.
11. Call Campus Police (542)-2291, for Escort Service if walking alone at night.
12. If you find yourself confronted by an assailant, you must remember that while screaming and struggling may in some instances frighten off the assailant, in other instances such actions may further antagonize the assailant and bring forth a more violent reaction. Above all you must keep your head and assess the situation before choosing your course of action. Whether or not the assailant is armed or has made threats against your life will, obviously, be a determining factor in your decision. The key word in this type of situation is survival.

Athletic Facilities

1. Avoid using athletic facilities alone, especially after dark or during off hours.
2. Use the "buddy system." Work out with a friend, and make arrangements to go to and from the gym together.
3. Confine your running and jogging to the daylight hours and to open well-traveled areas.
4. Avoid showering alone in the locker room. Shower back at your residence.
5. Avoid bringing cash, wallets, watches, or other valuables to the athletic facilities.
6. Avoid storing valuable sports equipment in your locker.
7. Keep your locker locked whenever unattended. This includes those times when you leave briefly to shower, visit the trainer's or the equipment room, etc. Most of the thefts at the athletic facilities are from unlocked lockers.
8. Report suspicious persons and incidents of theft to Campus Police immediately.

In the Women's Locker Room ...

1. Become familiar with the location and operation of the "Intruder Alarms" and the emergency telephone located in the women's locker room and other areas of the athletic complex.
2. If there is another woman in the locker room, ask her to wait for you. If you are with a male companion, ask him to wait for you just outside the locker room.
3. If you encounter a male intruder inside the women's locker room:
   • Call for help.
   • Activate the "Intruder Alarm." This will summon officers.
   • Keep out of the intruder's way, and do not attempt to prevent him from leaving.
   • Formulate a description of the intruder in your mind.
   • Notify Campus Police by dialing 2111 on the emergency telephone.
4. Report all incidents of voyeurism to Campus Police immediately.

Elevators

1. If, while waiting for an elevator, you find yourself alone with a stranger, let him take the elevator and wait for its return.
2. If you are on an elevator with someone who makes you feel uneasy, get off at the next floor.
3. Always stand near the control panel, where you have access to the alarm and floor buttons.

Driving

1. Do not pick up hitchhikers.
2. Whenever possible, limit traveling to well-lit, well-traveled roads.
3. Keep your windows closed and doors locked.
4. When stopped at traffic lights or stop signs, keep your vehicle in gear. If threatened, sound your horn and drive away as soon as possible.
5. Consider installing an alarm system with a panic switch.
6. Avoid stopping in poorly lit, out-of-the-way places.
7. If your vehicle breaks down, signal for assistance by raising your hood and by tying a white handkerchief to the radio antenna or door handle. Stay inside your vehicle with the windows closed and the doors locked. If a roadside Samaritan stops, roll down your window just enough to talk and ask that he/she call the police. If the person appears to be a threat, sound the horn and flash your lights.
8. If you think you are being followed, keep out of desolate areas. Look for a place where there are people, then stop and let the vehicle pass you.
9. If the vehicle continues to follow, drive to the nearest location where you can get assistance, i.e., gas stations, shopping centers, police or fire stations, etc.
10. If you are followed into your driveway or parking lot, stay locked inside your vehicle until you can identity the occupants of the vehicle. If threatened, sound your horn until you attract attention or the vehicle leaves.
11. When parking at night, choose well-lit areas. Before getting out of your vehicle, check for people loitering.
12. Always remove your ignition keys. Lock the vehicle whenever it is unattended.
13. Before entering your vehicle, always check the interior, paying particular attention to the floor and rear seat.

Next >> Part 2: Protect Your Property

Also see: Emergency Phone Locations and Blue Light Map

Campus Police Home Page

Last updated: October 13, 2000
Comments:Amherst College Campus Police