Safety Tips and Programs

General Safety Tips

Survivors of crime are never at fault for their victimization. It is the perpetrators of these crimes who are responsible for their actions that make our campus less safe.
Sexual contact without consent is a serious crime.
If you see someone in need, there are ways you can safely intervene, including by being direct when safe and able, creating a distraction, or by delegating to others when help is needed.
When walking alone, consider walking with your phone in your hand.
If you feel threatened or uncomfortable in regards to your safety, please call 911.
If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, resources are available for help. For a list of confidential and non-confidential campus or community resources, please visit: https://www.ohio.edu/equity-civil-rights/Resources

Keep your door locked.
Never let unauthorized persons come into your room, enter residence halls, or enter apartment security doors.
Never prop open inside or outside doors.
Do not hide keys outside of your room or apartment. Do not put your name or address on your key rings.
Avoid working or studying alone in a campus building.
Close blinds or curtains after dark; avoid dressing or undressing in front of them.
Any suspicious activity should be reported to OUPD immediately. 740-593-1911 or 911.

Carry your car keys when approaching your vehicle so you can enter quickly.
Always check underneath your car upon approach and in the rear seat for intruders before entering your automobile.
Lock your doors and keep windows rolled up whenever possible.
Drive on well-traveled and well-lit streets.
Never hitchhike, and never pick up hitchhikers.
If someone tries to enter your stopped vehicle, sound the horn and drive to a safe area such as a convenience store. Call 911 immediately.
Do not allow any person access to you or inside your car. Roll down your window no more than an inch. Be aware that an accident may be staged to provide the other driver an opportunity to commit a criminal act.
Leave enough room between your car and the one ahead so you can drive around it if necessary.
Call ahead when driving to your home or apartment late at night and have someone watch you walk from your car to the residence.
Do not use electronic devices while driving! Using a cell phone divides your attention while driving and is exceptionally dangerous! 3,477 people were killed in 2015 by distracted drivers .

Avoid walking or jogging alone.
Avoid dark or vacant areas. Walk along well-lit routes.
Be alert to your surroundings. If you suspect you are being followed: Run in a different direction, go to the other side of the street and yell for help, or move quickly to a lighted area, a group of people, or a blue light emergency phone.
Have your keys ready when returning to your residence hall or apartment. Keep your personal or valuable items concealed and close to your body.
Avoid wearing headphones when walking or jogging - remain alert to your surroundings!

Keep your doors locked at all times. Close and lock all windows when you are leaving or going to sleep.
Secure your vehicle. Close all windows and lock all doors.
Adequately protect all valuables in your room, such as wallets, jewelry, credit cards, cash and computers. Do not leave valuables or cash in plain view. Consider using a concealed safe (bolted to a floor or wall if possible) to protect your valuables
Protect your textbooks and put your name in them. Do not leave them in public places. Textbooks are stolen at the end of semesters and turned in for cash.
Do not loan out your keys.
Never hide your keys outside your apartment or room. Do not put your name or address on your key rings.
Do not leave valuables in your dorm room or apartment on breaks from Ohio University - thieves strike heavily during breaks when they know they are less likely to be caught and there are more residences without people in them.
When in a public place, keep valuable possessions out of sight. If you must leave an area for any length of time, take personal items with you. This is especially true at the library! Don't leave your phone or laptop behind - we've taken several reports where someone left "for one minute" and came back to find their laptops and cell phones were stolen. It only takes a few seconds to steal these highly transportable items!