Safety Tips

Avoid Becoming a Victim

(info from Kaiser Permanente)

Here are some tips that may help you avoid becoming a victim:

• • Don’t walk alone after dark if at all possible. Instead, walk with others leaving your building. If you must walk alone, try to walk in well-lit areas, be alert, don’t converse with strangers or suspicious individuals, and know what business establishments you can duck into should you need help.

  • Don’t carry purses, wallets, or other valuables in backpacks. Women should carry purses in front of them where they have complete control. Don’t open wallets or purses on the street. Instead, wait until you get inside a building or BART station.

  • Don’t use outside ATM machines after dark unless you have someone with you to watch your back.

  • Park close to where you work or use public transportation. If you park far away because it is cheaper, call a taxi after dark.

  • Before you arrive at your parked vehicle, have your keys ready to unlock the door. Once inside, lock the doors immediately.

  • Don’t leave belongings such as cellular phones, CDs, money, parking cards, clothing, boxes, etc., in your vehicle where they are visible.

  • Before leaving your vehicle, look through the windows and see if there is anything inviting for a burglar to take.

  • When shopping, don’t put gifts in you unattended vehicle and then return to the mall to buy more gifts. Someone may be watching you. Instead, take someone along to sit in your vehicle or move your vehicle to another spot in the parking lot after putting the gifts in the trunk.

  • Bandits work office buildings looking for checkbooks, wallets, debit cards, and other valuables. Lock these items up each and every time you step away from your desk. You should do the same with company property such as laptop computers.