Loyola University Chicago

• Apartment/Home Security
• Residence Hall Tips
• Street Tips
• Theft Prevention
• Obscene Phone Calls
• Date Rape Drugs
• Bicycle Safety Tips
• Parking Safety Tips
• Public Transportation Tips
• Warm Weather Tips

Apartment/Home Security

Things you might consider before and after choosing an apartment. This list is not exhaustive but is intended as a guide to assist with finding a safer living environment.

• Shrubbery and trees close to the apartment building parking lot(s) and walkways should be well trimmed so they do not block out light or serve as a hiding place.
• Bushes and shrubbery near ground level windows should also be well trimmed.
• Exterior lighting around the apartment building is important. Notify the building manager or superintendent when exterior lights are not working.
• Building fire escapes should be well lit, particularly at ground level.
• If the lobby exterior door is suppose to be locked, help keep it locked. Never prop this door open. If the door is propped open, unprop it.
• At your mailbox, list only your last name and initial. Women in particular should list their name the same way in the building directory and telephone book.
• Whenever possible, avoid riding in the elevator alone with strangers. Don't hesitate to get off an elevator when you feel uncomfortable or threatened.
• When using an apartment building's laundry room, don't go there alone. Also, don't leave your clothes in the laundry room unattended.
• For your apartment door, a solid core wood or steel door is preferable.
• The door should not have glass near the door lock.
• It is advisable to have a peephole viewer on your apartment door.
• Whenever a new tenant moves into an apartment, the door locks should be rekeyed. They should also be rekeyed whenever the door lock key is lost or stolen.
• Your apartment key should be on a separate ring from your car key. You may possibly use a detachable key ring. Never place anything on a key ring that indicates your apartment or address.
• Never attempt to hide your apartment key outside the apartment. Burglars know the hiding places.
• For sliding glass doors, install a horizontal locking bar. A broom handle in the track at the bottom of the door can serve the same purpose.
• If the sliding glass doors can be lifted from its track, install two screws backed with a stack of washers at the top of the track. The screws should protrude downward just enough that the top of the door clears them.
• Secure all windows. Windows are often left unlocked or the locking hardware is easily defeated.
• If your apartment has first floor windows near a fire escape, double-hung wooden windows are the most troublesome. To secure them, drill a hole at a slight angle through the inside sash and one-half way through the outside sash. Insert a heavy nail or pin into this hole.
• When leaving your apartment, even for a short time, be sure to lock up. Lock both windows and doors and turn off all heat producing appliances.
• When leaving your apartment, turn a radio on low and take the newspaper in. Buy one or two inexpensive timers and program them to have lights in your apartment turn on and off during hours of darkness.
• If you will be away from your apartment for more then one night, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to check on your place from time to time. Also arrange to have them pick up your mail and newspapers.
• Record the description, serial number and cost of your valuables. Engrave appropriate items of value. If you have a camcorder, videotape each room with special emphasis upon items of value. If you don't have access to one, use a still camera to preserve a visual record of your valuables.
• Minimize the amount of expensive jewelry and cash you keep in your apartment. Rent a safety deposit box in a bank or open a bank account as an alternative.
• If you receive obscene or annoying telephone calls at your apartment, say nothing and hang up. Keep a record of such calls. If you are physically threatened, contact the Chicago Police at 311 and the Department of Campus Safety at 508-6039.
• NEVER answer personal questions from an unknown caller over the telephone. Don't give out your date of birth, social security number or PIMS number to callers. Banks don't need your PIMS number to access your account.
• Be cautious about maintenance or service personnel attempting to gain entry into your apartment. Don't be pressured into opening your apartment door until you have verified the service call with the apartment manager or superintendent. Always request identification and have them slip it under the door. When in doubt, leave them out.
• One of the best deterrents of apartment crime can be your neighbors. Get to know other tenants and join your Neighborhood Watch program. Report suspicious people and activity to the police.

Residence Hall Tips

• Always keep your dorm room doors locked, even when you are inside.
• Keep an inventory of valuable possessions and record serial numbers.
• Don't loan your keys to anyone. Don't mark your key chain with your name or address. Lost keys can lead to theft.
• Don't let unfamiliar people into your room.
• Don't prop open residence hall doors that are locked.
• Call Campus Safety if you see strangers loitering in or around the dorms.

Street Tips

• Walk or jog with a friend whenever possible.
• Stay alert and tuned-in to your surroundings.
• Walk or jog in well-lighted areas, stay away from alleys.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you will return.
• Carry a whistle or a body alarm. This can serve as a reminder to exercise caution, and can alert someone in the area that you need help.
• Use the Campus Escort Service—call 8-RIDE.

Theft Prevention

• Don't leave personal property (purses, bookbags, calculators, etc.) unattended in classrooms, study area, or libraries.
• Lock your bike to a bike rack with a kryptonite lock.
• Theft is our biggest crime problem. Report all thefts to Campus Safety (8-6039) immediately.

Obscene Phone Calls

• Hang up as soon as you realize the nature of the call. Don't try to find out who the caller is, and don't show any reaction.
• Note the time, what the caller said, a description of the voice, and any background noises.
• Advise your resident assistant and hall director, and make a report with the Department of Campus Safety.

Date Rape Drugs

• Never leave your drink unattended.
• Don't accept open beverages from anyone but a bartender or other official, proffesional server.
• Try to attend bars and parties with a group of friends, arranging beforehand to watch each other's drinks.
• Be alert to the behavior of friends. If a friend appears "disproportionately inebriated" in relation to the amount of alcohol they have consumed, they may be in danger.
• If you suspect that a friend has been drugged, call 911 or get them to the nearest medical attention.

Bicycle Safety Tips

The Lake Shore Campus has recently experienced a rise in the occurrence of bicycle thefts. The Campus Safety Deptartment offers the following advice to help keep your bicycle safe:

• Kryptonite locks have recently been found to be vulnerable to picking.
  • Use a U-lock with a flat key to secure the frame of your bike to the bike rack, and secure a tire if possible.
  • In addition, use a cable-type lock to secure your tires and the frame to the bike rack AGAIN.
• Do not place the locks close to the ground (or other hard object) where a thief can easily smash it with a hammer.
• Secure your bike to bike racks only.

Parking Safety Tips

• Always lock your car and take your keys.
• Close windows and lock storage compartments.
• Do not leave packages and valuables visible.
• Do not park in isolated locations or behind obstructions that block you from the view of others.
• Consider your return time when choosing a parking location, it may be dark when you return.
• Make a note of where you parked.
• When returning to you car, check all sides before entering.  Have your keys in your hand and ready before arriving at your car.
• Once inside your car, lock all doors.
• Be alert to strangers hanging around the parking area.
• Trust your instincts, leave at the first sign of danger and call Campus Safety at 44911 or use a yellow campus emergency phone.

Public Transportation Tips

• When riding a bus, use a stop that's well lit and near a coffee shop or store that's open.
• Travel with a friend or co-worker whenever possible.
• Know the bus or subway schedule ahead of time, so you aren't forced to wait longer than necessary.
• Don't sleep on the bus or subway.
• Sit near the bus driver.
• Have your money or tokens in hand to give to the driver. This way you won't fumble with your wallet or purse.
• Don't engage in unnecessary conversation with strangers. Never give out any personal information. The person you're talking to may be fine, but others can overhear.
• Don't get too involved with reading while you wait. Stay alert!
• Move away from people who appear intoxicated, even if this means going to another stop.
• Don't share a cab with a stranger.
• Sit near the aisle so you can get up quickly if someone bothers you.
• Don't sit near the exit door on busses, trains or subways. At stops, when the door opens, someone can reach in and snatch your purse or briefcase.
• Hold on firmly to your purse or briefcase. Don't put it on the seat beside you. Keep it in your lap or wedge it between your feet.
• Tuck necklaces inside your clothing and turn rings around so that valuable stones aren't showing. Better yet, remove jewelry before using public transportation.

Warm Weather Tips

• Do not leave windows open for ventilation. Many intruders enter through unsecured windows, even windows on upper floors. If you need to open windows for ventilation, install locks that will secure windows in a slightly open position.
• While on vacation, make sure that you stop mail delivery, and ask a neighbor to remove any flyers, newspapers, and other items that might accumulate while you are away. Use timers to turn lights on and off, and set radios to turn on at various times. Leave a contact number with a neighbor so that you can be reached in case of an emergency.
• When securing your bicycle, be sure to secure the frame and at least one wheel to a permanent, fixed object(securing both wheels is preferable). Use a high quality U-lock. Park your bike in a highly visible area. Register your bike with the Chicago Police Department on-line at www.cityofchicago.org and search for "bicycle registration".
• Never leave valuables in plain sight inside your vehicle. Be sure to lock them in the trunk. Never, ever leave children or pets inside a car. An 80 degree day can quickly produce tempratures of 120 degrees or more inside a vehicle, even when parked in the shade or with windows partially open.
• When the weather gets warm, check on older and isolated neighbors.
• Always travel on well lit, well populated streets. Always travel in groups. Remain alert to your surroundings. Never wear headphones while walking or jogging.
• At a bar or party, always go with a friend and watch out for each other. If you have to step away from your drink for a moment, have your friend watch it for you. If your drink has been left alone even for a moment, discard it and order a new one. Remember, date rape drugs are odorless, colorless, and tasteless.