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Crime Prevention Tips

You can help keep campus safe!

If something concerns you, it concerns us! Make safety your first priority when it comes to crime prevention awareness and contact the JCCC Campus Police at ext. 4111 when you observe suspicious activity. Your safety is our first concern.

While there are no guaranteed ways of completely preventing crime, these tips compiled by the JCCC Crime Prevention Unit are simple things that students, staff, and faculty can do on campus that may deter property and violent crime.

Car thieves and burglars look for easy targets such as unlocked cars with valuable items left in plain sight. The JCCC Crime Prevention Unit offers safety and security tips as well as preventive measures to deter auto thefts and burglaries:

  • Never leave your keys in your car when it is unattended.
  • Do not leave valuables inside your car in plain view.
  • Check your car door's lock by pulling up on the door handle, especially when using your remote lock.
  • Use your car alarm.
  • Avoid parking your vehicle in locations where theft and burglary are likely.
  • When parking your vehicle in the evening, park underneath a street light or in a well-lit area.
  • Illuminate your home's driveway and garage entry.
  • During cooler seasons, never leave your car unlocked while warming it up.

By following these simple crime prevention tips, you may reduce the chance of becoming a victim. Auto thieves are opportunists who seek out cars to steal and break into.

Campus police are available upon request to provide a security escort to campus locations or vehicles. They also provide motorist assistance. For assistance, call the campus police department at 913-469-2500 (913-339-6699 TDD/TTY).

Today’s world has changed so much since we were children. Now, as adults, we may realize why our parents were always asking us where we were going. Below are some basic safety rules parents should make sure children are aware of as they run and play in a busy community.

  • Always check with your parents or guardian before you go anywhere and let them know when you have arrived safely at your destination.
  • Use the "Buddy System" and try not to go anywhere alone even when you're playing.
  • Know your full name, address and phone number as well as your parents' full name, too!
  • Say "No" to anyone who tries to touch you or treat you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable or scared.
  • Tell your parents if you feel scared, confused or uncomfortable about any situation.
  • Avoid taking shortcuts (alleys, isolated pathways, etc.) as you walk. Always use well-traveled, well-lit routes.
  • Never accept a ride with anyone you do not know and stay away from people who try to lure you to their car.
  • If you get separated from your parents in a public place, immediately go to a store employee or checkout counter and inform the person you are lost and need help in locating your parents.

Remember these rules to live by and always think safety and security.

Situation

Possible Significance
Vehicle moving slowly and aimlessly in a repetitive manner up and down a street or parking lot. The vehicle occupants could be casing a vehicle to burglarize or vandalize.
A parked vehicle containing one or more persons, especially at an unusual hour or a secluded location. The persons inside could be lookouts for an accomplice involved in a building or auto burglary in progress.
Subjects are observed on campus loading up a vehicle with valuables. This could be a burglary or theft in progress.
An abandoned vehicle is parked on campus with or without a license plate or with vehicle damage. This could be a stolen vehicle used in the commission of a crime and then abandoned.
Subject loitering around a parked car located on campus. Auto burglar waiting to enter or steal a vehicle or vandalize it.
A "business transaction" conducted in a park or around campus. Possible drug sales transaction or sale of stolen items.

When campus officers speak with JCCC students and employees about their personal property, some of them say they are not too concerned about their valuables being stolen. They don't believe they have anything of value that someone would want to steal. Campus police believe otherwise and point to all the stolen items they have seen on burglary reports. Below is a partial list of items that have been reported stolen:

  • Jewelry
  • Cameras
  • Designer clothes
  • Laptops
  • IPods/IPads
  • Kindle/NOOKS
  • Credit cards/checkbooks/money
  • JCCC student ID cards
  • Cell phones
  • Other electronic devices
  • Purses/wallets
  • Textbooks
  • Car keys

Next time you think you don't have any items on a burglar’s list - THINK TWICE! The best prevention is to keep valuable items on your person or in a secure place, and not leave them unattended. It is important to remember that there are many items of value on campus that thieves would love to get their hands on.
  1. Lock your windows and doors before you leave the house.
  2. Do not put gifts in view of your windows.
  3. If you are going out of town, use an automatic timer for your home’s lights.
  4. Record the serial numbers of expensive items you have purchased.
  5. Lock your car, even if you’re gone for only a few minutes.
  6. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for your purchases with a debit or credit card.
  7. Notify issuers immediately if your credit or debit card is lost or stolen.
  8. Stay alert to your surroundings and the people around you – especially in parking lots.
  9. Don't advertise the new items you have in your home. Flatten empty boxes and place them in a trash receptacle.
  10. Be a "Nosy Neighbor." Watch for suspicious activity in your neighborhood and call the police immediately if suspicious activity is observed.

Stalking is defined as repeated conduct that is carried out over a period of time which causes you to fear for your safety or the safety of someone you know. Stalking does not have to result in physical injury in order to make it a crime. The law protects you even if the conduct of the stalker is not done with the intent to scare you. Are you or someone you know being stalked?

  • Is someone repeatedly following you or someone you know?
  • Is someone repeatedly communicating undesirably with you directly or indirectly?
  • Is someone persistently watching you, your home or work place?
  • Have you been threatened by this person? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may be a victim of stalking.

If you think you are being stalked:

  • Contact the police, a community victim advocacy service, or a college counselor, or talk to a friend, co-worker or family member.
  • Maintain detailed notes about the stalking conduct (dates, times, places, actions, threats). It will be easier to explain and remember if it is written down.
  • Pay attention to incidents that may seem coincidental. Are you running into the same person more frequently?
  • Keep all recorded telephone messages, emails, gifts, letters or notes that have been sent to you.
  • Keep a list of emergency phone numbers handy. The emergency phone numbers should include the police, immediate family members, friends, co-workers and your victim advocacy group.

Take stalking seriously! If you are being stalked, contact the police.

While planning for your upcoming summer vacation, remember to include plans for the security of your residence. Whether you're away for just a weekend trip or an extended getaway, make your home part of your to do check list.

Home Security

  • Tell a trusted neighbor you will be heading out of town and ask they keep an eye on your home.
  • Request they collect any mail or newspapers that may be delivered.
  • Make sure all of your home's windows and doors are secure.
  • If you leave a vehicle parked outside do not leave the garage remote inside the vehicle.
  • Use interior and exterior lights on timers and exterior motion detection or dusk to dawn lighting.

Personal Safety While Traveling

  • Always try to be as alert as possible to your surroundings.
  • Keep an eye on your baggage and items of value you may be carrying especially in airports and hotels.
  • Preplan your travels so you know where you are going in advance.
  • Keep a cell phone handy.
  • Park your vehicle in a well-lit area and avoid places that may make you vulnerable to crime.

Hotel & Motel Security

  • Always keep your hotel room door lock; do not prop the door open if you are waiting for someone.
  • Use the door viewer before opening the door for someone.
  • Store valuables in the hotel/motel safe if available and avoid leaving valuables unattended in the room.
  • Inquire if the location of where you will be staying is in a safe neighborhood.

Your name may be the most important identity you "carry" with you everyday because it is who you are. Identity theft predators know this and want to steal your identity and use your name for criminal activities. The following safety tips may help you keep your name secure and protected:

  • Shred any documents with personal information.
  • Be mindful of whom you give information to over the telephone, smartphone, electronic tablet or other communication devices as well as the Internet.
  • Protect your identity by never clicking on links sent to you in unsolicited emails. Use firewalls, anti-spyware and anti-virus software to protect your computer.
  • Avoid using obvious passwords like your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your home address.
  • Periodically check your credit history and financial statements for any discrepancies.
  • While on campus, do not leave your personal information unattended.

These are just a few ways you can help keep your good name to yourself and feel secure in the knowledge that your name has not been compromised.
Recent crime-trend reports show the number of purse thefts appear to be increasing. Unfortunately, a victim of a purse or backpack theft may also become a victim of identity theft. The JCCC Crime Prevention Unit wants to remind you to keep a close eye on your purse or backpack and remember the following tips:
  • Conceal your purse or backpack under the seat of your car or place it inside your trunk.
  • Place your purse or backpack inside a locked closet or drawer when on campus.
  • Never leave your purse or backpack unattended on campus including under your desk or in a break room.
  • If possible, place your debit/credit card and other necessary items in your front pants pocket.
  • To reduce your losses, carry as few items as possible in your purse.
  • Do not place your purse or backpack strap around your neck. In the event of an attempted purse snatching, the sudden impact could injure your neck or cause you to fall.
  • Always walk with confidence and be aware of your surroundings.
  • If your purse or backpack is stolen, report the theft immediately to JCCC Campus Police.
  • Contact your debit/credit card provider immediately if you become a victim of a purse theft.

Winter driving in Kansas can be challenging and hazardous. But with planning and preparation you may overcome these hazards. Common sense is the key. Monitoring the weather, traveling only when necessary, keeping your speed down and driving defensively can help you make it to your destination safely.

Driving in winter conditions can be dangerous, especially for those who have become rusty at winter driving during the warmer weather. With winter, we need to familiarize ourselves with the basic safe driving tips. Driving on snow and ice demands concentration, awareness, skill and preparedness. The following are a few suggestions that will help ensure your safety during the winter driving season:

  1. Prepare your vehicle for winter. Just as cold affects the human body, it also affects your vehicle.
  2. Charge your cell phone before you leave and don't forget to BUCKLE UP!
  3. Check your car’s fluids. Make sure that your radiator is winterized and that you have a full tank of windshield washing fluid. Keep your vehicle’s fuel tank at least half full.
  4. Ensure that your tires have adequate tread and are properly inflated. Traction is extremely important while driving in winter weather.
  5. Equip your vehicle with good wiper blades. They will wear quickly in the cold and excessive ice of Kansas winters.
  6. Have your vehicle's exhaust system checked. Small leaks can lead to carbon monoxide – a colorless and odorless gas - entering the passenger compartment. Small amounts can lead to drowsiness and have fatal consequences.
  7. Check your vehicle's belts, hoses and brake system for excessive wear. Replace or repair any worn parts.
  8. Increase the following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Ice and snow significantly increase your stopping distances, so maintain a safe distance. Also, reduce your speed. Driving too fast on snow and ice greatly increases the chance of losing control of your vehicle.
  9. If you must drive during hazardous weather conditions, give yourself plenty of time to arrive safely at your destination.
  10. Accelerate slowly and brake gently. Make turns slowly and gradually, especially in heavily traveled areas like intersections that may become icy from snow that has melted and refrozen. A light foot on the gas is less likely to lead to tires slipping on ice and snow. When coming to a stop, pump your brakes unless your vehicle has an anti-lock braking system (ABS). Read your vehicles owner’s manual for more information about your braking system.
  11. Clean frost, snow and ice off your vehicle’s windows, mirrors and lights before driving in winter conditions. Use your headlights for better visibility for both you and oncoming traffic.
  12. Be aware of black ice, which is virtually transparent and invisible to drivers. Also, reduce your speed when crossing bridges, because they are prone to ice.
  13. If your car loses traction and goes into a skid, steer toward the direction you want to go. Anticipate a second skid in the opposite direction as your vehicle straightens out.

While away from home and at your place of employment, it may be easy to forget about crime prevention and safety awareness. When in a work environment, your thoughts may be about deadlines, budgets and bottom lines. The following tips address safety and self-protection in the workplace.

  • Keep an eye on your belongings such as wallets, purses, cell phones and laptops. Lock up items of value.
  • Be attentive to people who enter your work environment whom you do not recognize or who look out of place.
  • Have emergency phone numbers available for immediate use and have a plan of action in case of an emergency.
  • If you are the first employee to arrive at work, be alert to your surroundings.
  • When working after regular business hours, lock the entrance to your office to keep out uninvited visitors and always let someone know you’re working late.
  • When using an elevator or stairwell, try to use them with people you know.
  • When walking from the parking lot, proceed with purpose. This may signal to criminals that you are aware of your surroundings.
  • Campus Police offer security escorts to your vehicle – call 4112 for this service.