Safety Tips from the Oakland Police Department---Avoid Being A Crime Victim!

Always conceal what you have that could be stolen, such as money or a cell phone. Cell phones are just like cash—when thieves see a cell phone they want it. To be safe, treat your cell phone like your cash: don't let anyone know you have it.

Call the OPD non-emergency number, 777-3333, to report suspicious persons. The police want to hear from you, and you could prevent a crime! Provide as much information as possible, including the time you noticed the person, the clothing worn, the shoes worn, and the manner in which the person walked.

BART Stations

• Be especially cautious around BART stations. Thieves tend to look for victims there.

• Try not to walk alone at night near stations. Try to walk with people from the BART station to your car. Be aware of who is around you, and if someone looks suspicious, get away from him.

• Avoid making cell phone calls while on BART or the bus. If you must make a call, go sit near the driver and stay there.

The Street

• Be aware of who is around you. If someone looks suspicious or makes you feel uneasy, avoid that person. Go inside a store or business if necessary.

• If you must make a call while you are walking, go to a safe, public place, like a store. Make your call, then conceal your phone the way you would conceal your cash before going back to the street.

Your Car

• When leaving your car, lock it and close the windows. Take your key.

• Don’t leave items inside the car, even if you think they look like trash—they’ll still look attractive to a thief.

• When you get in the car, close and lock the doors immediately. Keep the doors locked and the windows rolled up.

• If you must make a call while driving, pull over and keep an eye on who is near your car.

At Home

• When you are exiting or unloading your car, when walking from your car to your home, or when spending time in your front yard, do these things:

  • Be cautious of anyone on the street who makes you feel uneasy.

  • If you view such a person and are in the front yard, quickly go inside and lock the doors. If you are in a car, stay in the car with locked doors and windows. Either use a cell phone to call someone to escort you inside, or drive away and come back later.

  • Never, ever open your door to anyone you do not know.

The An ATM

• Use ATM's in well lighted, populated areas. Store and bank ATM's during the day are best. Scan the area before using the ATM. If you see a person loitering in the area for no apparent reason, go to another location.

• If you see something strange during your transaction, push cancel, take your card and leave the area.

• After the transaction, be alert. You’ll have cash in hand making you a possible target. Scan the area. Leave immediately. If you suspect danger, promptly enter the nearest store or building.

CRIME PREVENTION TIPS FROM OAKLAND POLICE LT. JAMES MEEKS

(RAPE PREVENTION)

Be aware of your surroundings when walking down the street. Walk
briskly and confidently.

At night, try to avoid walking alone, particularly after 9:00 p.m.
Stick to main streets with as much car and foot traffic as possible.
Avoid public parks, areas with excessive trees and bushes, dark
streets and alleys, and other "shortcuts."

Keep an arm's length away from strangers. If you think someone
suspicious is approaching you or following you, cross to the other
side of the street and head for the nearest public place.

Know which stores and other public places are open along your route.
Whether walking home, to work, or jogging, try to vary your route
frequently.

When streets are sparsely populated, make brief eye contact with
people as you pass them.

When parking at night, try to park in well-lit spots. Lock your car
door and, when returning to your car, have your keys ready.

Never hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers.

Know the full name of each person you date, his occupation, and where
he lives.

Never invite a person whom you have met on the street, in a bar, or
in another public place to be alone with you.

If you are a victim of rape, report the crime. Counseling, shelters,
and other services are available for you, and you may prevent another
person from being victimized.

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(STREET ROBBERY PREVENTION)

Try to avoid walking alone on the street after 9:00 p.m. If you must
walk alone at night, use well-lit roads, with as much car traffic as
possible, and walk near the curb.

When streets are relatively empty, make eye contact with everyone you
pass, and keep yourself an arm's length away from them. Walk briskly
and confidently.

At night, avoid public parks, vacant lots, and areas with excessive
trees and bushes.

When waiting for a bus or subway, if the station is deserted, keep
your back against a wall in a well-lit section.

When walking to your car at night, have your keys in your hand and be
ready to open the door.

Try to avoid using ATMs late at night. If you must, try to pick an
ATM in an attended location, such as a supermarket or mall. At the
very least, make sure the ATM is well lit, and be aware of any
people "loitering" in the area. Try to avoid going by yourself.

At home, before answering the door, check the peephole or side window
to make sure you know your visitor.

Keep your doors locked when driving your car. If someone approaches
your car while stopped, be prepared to step on the gas.

Don't carry your purse loosely around your shoulder. Clutch it
tightly under your arm or, better yet, avoid carrying a purse and
keep a wallet in your pocket instead.

If you are robbed, obey the robber's instructions. Keeping your cash
in a separate money clip or pouch will allow you to hand it over
without sacrificing your credit cards, identification, and personal
papers. Try to memorize your robber's physical features, clothing,
motor vehicle, and direction of flight. Call the police from the
nearest available telephone.

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(COMMERCIAL ROBBERY PREVENTION)

Keep cash to a minimum with frequent, irregular deposits or a "drop
safe." Use visible stickers or signs to advertise your cash control
policy.

Install visible closed circuit television cameras near cash registers.

Keep your establishment well-lit at night. Clear any obstructions
that prevent someone on the street from seeing what is happening
inside the store.

Designate a small bundle of cash "bait money." Record the serial
numbers of these bills and make sure you give this cash to robbers.

During a robbery, remember that a robber is a bundle of nerves and,
therefore, is very dangerous. Instruct your employees to obey a
robber's instructions calmly and politely.

Have employees memorize a signal or "code" to alert each other to
potential or actual robbers.

If robbed, try to memorize as much as possible about the robber's
description, including his vehicle and his direction of flight.

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(ASSAULT PREVENTION)

Check out the tips for preventing rape and street robbery to prevent
unprovoked, "street" assaults.

If you have been abused by, or are in fear of, your domestic partner
or spouse, get help. The problem usually becomes worse if it is not
addressed. See more information about domestic violence.

Report assault when it happens, even if you do not believe it to
be "serious." Assaults that are not reported cannot be considered by
police administrators when they make decisions about how to allocate
manpower and funds; if there is a problem with a bar, a household, a
school, or any other place where assaults are likely to happen, the
police need to know about it.

Do not allow yourself to be drawn into arguments about traffic or
parking incidents. Keep calm when behind the wheel of your car. If
another driver commits a violation or threatens you, take down his
registration information and report it to the police. Hundreds of
people are killed each year because of "road rage."

Unless they have security forces for that purpose, shop managers and
clerks should not attempt to physically detain shoplifters. Most of
the "Shop Owner/Patron" assaults began as shoplifting incidents.
Instead, get a full description of the shoplifter and call the
police. If he refuses to stay, let him go.

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(RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY PREVENTION)

Try "casing" your own home, at night and during the day. Attempt to
gain access to your home when the doors and windows are locked
and "secure." Make sure you have some identification on you in case
your neighbors call the police.

Doors should be made from strong wood or metal and should be locked
with a deadbolt. Install guards on windows that prevent them from
being raised more than a few inches.

If you live in an apartment building that has a main entryway, make
sure that security is enforced at the main door. Never prop open the
door or let someone in behind you. Report residents who do this to
your landlord.

When you go away, even for the evening, leave a light or two on
(perhaps on a timer) as well as the television or radio.

Keep a small amount of cash on a table near your main door. If the
money is gone when you come home, you will know immediately that
someone has been in your residence.

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(COMMERCIAL BURGLARY PREVENTION)

Light all entrances, include alleys, with vandal-proof fixtures.
Leave lights on inside the establishment overnight and on weekends.

Glass doors should be made from burglar-resistant glass and should be
well-lit.

Keep weeds, shrubbery, and debris away from doors and windows. Lock
up tools and ladders that could invite a break or make a burglar's
job easier.

Install an alarm system, check it regularly, and investigate reasons
behind any false alarms. Post a conspicuous notice that you have an
alarm system.

Leave empty cash drawers open after hours.

Use a burglar-resistant safe; don't trust a fire safe to keep
burglars out.

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(LARCENY PREVENTION)

--Larcenies from Buildings--

Office buildings should develop a comprehensive security policy
involving all employees. The policy should include a prohibition
against leaving expensive equipment-particularly laptop computers-
unattended. Employees should be encouraged to question suspicious or
unfamiliar people, or to report them to the security department.

Don't leave expensive personal property in health club lockers. A
better solution is a "fanny pack" or other strap-on carrier that you
can keep with you at all times.

Retail establishments should provide individual lockers, with locks,
for employee property. Leaving it behind the counter or in a "back
room" is an invitation for theft.

Take extreme care of your personal property while shopping and
dining. Keep it in sight, and never leave it unattended, not even for
a minute.

Report all thefts, no matter how minor, to the police department.
Greater reporting will allow us to identify and attack patterns and
series of crime.

--Larcenies from Motor Vehicles--

The best and really only way to prevent larcenies from motor vehicles
is never to leave valuables in your car unattended-particularly
electronic goods such as cellular telephones and laptop computers.
Preventing the theft of car radios is more difficult; some car stereo
manufacturers make detachable face plates or stereos that pull easily
from the dashboard, allowing you to take it with you or lock it in
the trunk.

Parking your car in a driveway or lot rather than on the street
provides some minimal deterrent.

--Larcenies of Bicycles--

The facts are grim: no lock will stop a determined bicycle thief.
However, using a lock is better than not using a lock, and you can
maximize the protection a lock provides by:

Using a steel "U" lock rather than a cable lock

Locking the frame of the bicycle rather than the tire

Locking your bike at a bicycle rack

Register your bicycle with the Cambridge Police Department. If your
bike is stolen and recovered, it will be easier to find you and
return your bicycle. Registration cards are available at the
Cambridge Police Department and at bicycle shops across the city.
Call 349-3236 for more information.

Removing an essential part of the bicycle, such as the seat or one of
the wheels, and taking it with you provides some protection against
theft.

Don't assume your bicycle is safe because it is in your yard, on your
porch, or in your apartment hallway. Bikes should be locked in a
secured area, such as a garage or shed.

--Shoplifting--

Greet and serve customers promptly. Shoplifters do not want your
attention.

If you suspect someone has "pocketed" merchandise, engage them in
conversation for a few minutes. They may "ditch" the merchandise as
soon as you leave them alone.

Sales personnel should have a full view of the sales floor area.
Rearrange displays, shelving, and lighting to eliminate blind spots.

Keep displays neat and tidy.

Be aware of people wearing loose, baggy clothing, carrying shopping
bags or large handbags, or customers under the influence of drugs and
alcohol.

Request a commercial survey from one of the Cambridge Police
Department's certified Crime Prevention Officers at 617-349-6009.

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(AUTO THEFT PREVENTION)

Door locks and ignition keys are called "first layer" anti-theft
devices. Of couse, every vehicle has them. They offer no deterrent to
a determined thief: 78 percent of automobiles stolen in Cambridge are
locked at the time of the theft, and 91 percent do not have a key in
the ignition. Learning how to pop a door lock and force an ignition
is part of "Auto Theft 101."

"Second layer" anti-theft devices provide the most protection for
your dollar. These include:

Steering wheel locks: metal bars designed to prevent the steering
wheel from turning. They do their job, and provide an excellent
visual deterrent. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau,
steering wheel locks decrease the chances of theft by a factor of
four.

Steering column collars: steel collars that fit around the steering
wheel and prevent a thief from cracking open the ignition. They offer
the same benefits as a steering wheel lock.

Audible alarms: triggered by motion or impact sensors. Thieves aren't
likely to stick around when they go off.

Theft deterrent decals: an inexpensive way to bluff a thief into
thinking that your vehicle is protected by an alarm or another device.

"Third layer" anti-theft devices include "kill switches" that prevent
the flow of electricity to the engine unless a special, hidden switch
is activated; and "smart keys," which are computer-coded keys that
must be inserted before the vehicle will start.

Finally, "fourth layer" theft devices are electronic transmitters
that allow police to track a vehicle after it is stolen. While not
very effective in preventing the original theft, these devices
increase chance of recovery. By the time the car is recovered, of
course, it may be stripped or burned.

Other than theft devices, there are several precautions that can be
taken to decrease the chances that you will become a victim of auto
theft.

Engrave the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of your car on the
car's front and rear windshields (on an edge), and on key engine
parts. This will make it difficult for a thief to resell the vehicle
or its parts.

Parking in a driveway or parking garage offers some deterrent to
theft. If you have a garage at home, parking your car in the garage
and locking it greatly decreases your chances of overnight theft.

If you must park on the street at night, try to park under a street
light or otherwise in a well-lit area.

When parking at shopping malls or motels, try to park near the
entrance.

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(FRAUD PREVENTION)

Banks are swiftly replacing standard ATM Cards with "Check Cards"-
credit cards that deduct directly from your checking account. These
check cards, while convenient, present a security problem. Thieves no
longer need your Personal Identification Number (PIN) to use the
card; if a thief uses it like a credit card, he can drain your entire
account by just forging your signature on credit card slips. If your
ATM Card has a credit card logo (such as Visa or MasterCard) on it,
it can be used like a credit card. If you do not want this feature,
notify your bank and have them send you an ATM-only card.

Keep your credit card numbers, and the telephone numbers of your
credit card companies, at home and work. If your cards are stolen,
call these numbers immediately and report the theft.

Try to avoid carrying more credit cards than you need at one time.

Never write your ATM card PIN number on the card or on a slip of
paper in your wallet or purse.

Protect your cards against theft in the first place; see the
prevention tips under the "Larceny" section.

Merchants should implement and enforce a policy of requiring a
photographic identification when using a check or credit card.

Whether or not the merchant has such a policy, you can force them to
ask for photo identification when your credit card is used: instead
of signing a new credit card, write the words "ask for photo ID"
across the strip on the back of the card. The card is still valid,
but you will have to present your identification whenever you use it
in a store.

Learn to recognize potential fraud scenarios. Any of the following
activities almost certainly involves a scam:

Someone approaches you on the street claiming to have found money.

Any circumstance in which you have to pay money in order to get money.

Someone comes to your door, without notification, claiming to work
for the gas company, electric company, water company, or cable
company. Always ask for official identification and call the utility
company to make sure the identification is valid. Do not let "utility
impostors" into your home.

You receive an unsolicited telephone call from someone offering a
great deal on some piece of merchandise.

You're notified in the mail that you've won a prize, but you have to
pay money in order to claim it.