The New Mexico State University Police Department’s Crime Prevention and Public Information Offices Present |
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How to Avoid Becoming a Crime Victim |
You have done it! You are enrolled at NMSU and are ready to learn. But have you taken a few minutes to make sure you and your valuables are safe? This informational brochure has been designed to provide you with some basic crime prevention strategies to reduce your chances of becoming a crime victim.
Are
College Campuses Safe?
In relative terms, yes. The incidence of violent crime tends to be much lower than in non-campus areas. This is true of almost all universities, in part because the people attending the universities are paying to be there to learn. However, being on campus is not a guarantee of absolute safety, nor will a student be on campus every hour of every day. And, the fact that students may have things non-students might want (e.g., nice vehicles, car stereos, televisions, computers, etc.) does mean that students’ belongings can be an attractive target for criminals. In fact, theft is the largest crime category at NMSU and many other universities.
How To Protect Yourself
While the incidence of violent crime is low at NMSU, some does still occur. The following are guidelines to reducing your personal risk:
- Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol. For men, that is no more than 2 drinks per hour, and for women 1.5 drinks per hour, with no more than 4 drinks consumed in any given evening. National statistics indicate that as many as 65% of the victims of violent crimes on college campuses have been drinking at the time they are attacked. At NMSU, similar involvement with alcohol has been seen in certain crime categories, to include assaults, batteries, and rapes.
- Avoid going out alone with people you barely know. While college is a great place to meet new and interesting people, not all of the people will share your views of what is or is not appropriate behavior. Until you get to know someone fairly well, meet in public places and/or with friends. And, as noted above, avoid excessive consumption of alcohol.
- Remember
that in most murders, rapes, and assaults reported in the
- Avoid taking unnecessary risks. This includes getting a ride with someone you don’t know well, going to isolated locations, not having a means of calling someone for help, being in known dangerous areas, etc. Whenever possible, let someone know where you are going, who you are going with, and when you should be back. If you don’t feel comfortable directly contacting someone, at least write it down and leave it in your room so it can be found by friends or family later if something does happen to you.
- Stand up for yourself and your rights. If you don’t want someone to do something to you, say so clearly. Do not try to word it to keep from hurting the other person’s feelings, to make it sound nicer or less “mean”. Doing so can send a mixed message. Remember, if you don’t stand up and say “NO”, nobody else will do it for you.
- When
visiting foreign countries, remember the rights you enjoy as a
How to Protect Your Belongings
As previously mentioned, the chances of becoming the victim of a theft are much greater than any other crime category. The following steps can help in reducing those chances:
- Protect your personal information - identity theft is on the rise nationwide.
§ Do not give anyone (including roommates) your passwords.
§ Do not leave credit cards, checks (especially blank checks), or other financial information laying around where others might see them.
§ Check your credit report at least once a year to see if someone else might be using your personal information. (see www.annualcreditreport.com)
§ Shred credit card offers before throwing them away. A cross-cut shredder is best.
§ If you think your credit or debit cards might have been stolen, report them immediately to your bank(s) so they can be cancelled.
§ Don’t loan someone your birth certificate, driver’s license, or social security card for the purposes of helping them get a fake ID. Not even a family member.
- Never leave anything of value in a classroom, hallway, or lounge, even if it is just for a few minutes. Chances are it won’t be there when you get back.
- Get in the habit of closing and locking your bedroom door and windows anytime you leave. You may be able to trust a roommate or suitemate, but they may have someone come over to study or socialize that is not trustworthy and could gain access to your belongings when your roommate or suitemate is distracted.
- Do not leave valuables in your vehicle, especially overnight. If an item cannot be brought into your room or house, it should be secured in the trunk. And avoid showing off items like vehicle stereos or entertainment systems that might be installed in the vehicle. It only takes a criminal a few seconds to remove most stereos and entertainment centers installed in the dashboard.
- If you have an expensive vehicle, invest in a security system that has an ignition kill circuit to prevent unauthorized starting. Avoid alarm systems that just make noise.
- Lock the doors and roll up the windows of your vehicle every time you get out, and never leave your keys in the ignition while you go inside somewhere.
- Do not buy magazine subscriptions, cell phones, cleaning products, etc. from people going door to door. The vast majority of such sellers may appear to be sincere and legitimate, but the “companies” they work for may not ever send the product ordered.
Additional Information
The above information has been compiled to help provide basic safety information. Additional information can be found through the NMSU Police Department website at www.nmsupolice.com.
And remember, if you do become the victim of a crime, contact the appropriate police department immediately (before calling friends, family, neighbors, classmates, people you met at the store, etc.). Time can be critical in some cases, so please give us the best chance at solving your case by not giving the suspect extra time to hide or destroy evidence.