As a member of the UAB community, you can help prevent crime. The UAB campus is one of the safest areas in Birmingham, and by practicing a few precautions and keeping a safety attitude, you can help to keep it safe.

1. Lock and secure your desk and office when away, even if it's for just a minute or so.

2. Keep small valuables (wallets & purses) out of sight in a closed and locked desk or file cabinet.

3. If possible, when away from your work area let a coworker or close neighbor know about your departure and expected time of return.

4. Lock typewriters, computers, word processors, & similar office equipment to the desk or table top with some type of security device.

5. Keep a list of brand names, serial and model numbers descriptions of all office equipment in your work area.

6. Protect your personal property by marking it with an additional, special id. number, such as your drivers license number. Use account or other numbers for officer and unit equipment and keep records of these numbers.

7. If you have to work late at night, avoid working alone. Keep all doors between you and the public closed and locked after-hours or when appropriate.

8. When leaving work during the hours of darkness, you need an escort to your vehicle, call the UAB Police if you need an escort to your car.

9. If you are entrusted with a UAB key or CARDKEY access card. DO NOT loan it to anyone. Keys and Cardkeys can be easily lost or stolen and misused.

10. If you receive annoying or obscene phone calls hang up. Write down the time of the call, what the caller said and notify your UAB Police.

11. Report all suspicious persons and/or activity to your UAB Police.

12. When vendors come to the office to pick up equipment for return or repairs, ask to see ID or proof of their affiliation with the company. If you have a vendor coming in to work or pick up equipment, tell somebody in the office so they can check on it for you if you are away from the office when they arrive. If you see somebody taking equipment out of a work area and your not sure if they should be, ask them who they are and what they are doing. If you think somebody is trying to steal items, call your UAB Police.

List only your initials and last name on your mail box or in telephone books.

If possible, equip your house or apartment door with a peephole and a dead bolt lock with a one-inch throw.

Be sure all windows have secure frames and locks.

Never open your door to strangers. Request identification from all repair or service personnel, and verify the identity before letting them in, especially if you have not called for repairs.

Use outside lighting whenever possible.

Never hide your door key in a flower pot or under a mat. In fact, don't hide your door key anywhere outside your residence.

Make certain your door is locked whenever you leave, even if only for a short time. When practical, lock your office door behind you, or lock you desk. Never leave your purse or valuables visibly unattended.

When you travel out of town, have a friend or neighbor watch your house for you. Have them get the mail and newspapers and keep them or put them in the house. Lots of newspapers in the yard and a full mailbox are invitations to burglars. Get timers for lights and place them at lights near windows to give the impression that someone is home. Put a time on a radio or TV also. Contact your local police department and ask them to put your house on a "House Watch" list for the period you are out of town. Most local police agencies do this as a service for their communities. Don't forget to inform them of who has keys and is watching the house for you.

Walk with someone else, whenever possible.

Walk only in well-lit areas and avoid short cuts through poorly lighter vacant lots and other deserted places.

Walk near the curb on the side of the street facing traffic.

Dress appropriately. If you expect to be walking, wear comfortable clothes and shoes you can run in.

If you think you are being followed while walking, change direction and head for a well-lit area with other people around. Cross to the other side of the street rather than confront a lone male in an isolated area.

Consider getting a cell phone as a security device for emergencies.

Always lock your car doors.

Look in the back seat before getting in to be sure no one is hiding there, even if you locked the door earlier.

Look under the car as you approach it to be sure no one is hiding under it.

Have your car door key in hand so you can enter the car quickly. Lock the door immediately once inside.

If your hands are full of bags, consider asking for a security escort from the store, mall, or grocery staff. Take more trips to the car if you are shopping in order to keep at least one hand free. Be aware of your surroundings when placing items in trunk, don't just bend over and keep your attention diverted from what is going on around you.

When dealing with kids and car seats, it is better to put them in the seat, then get in yourself, lock the doors, and then finish buckling the kids up. This keeps you safer and allows you to give the full attention needed to handling the kids. If you are trying to buckle kids up and you are bent over into the car, you are vulnerable and cannot see what is going on around you!

Lock personal property in the trunk of the car if you cannot take it with you. Do not leave such items as your purse, a calculator, camera, brief case or tape player in view or on seats.

Keep plenty of gas in your car and keep the car in good running order. If you should have car trouble, raise the hood, lock yourself in and wait for the police. If someone stops and offers help, stay in your car and ask that person to call for help for you; a relative, a friend or the police. Never pick up or stop to give a stranger a ride. lf you must stop, be sure your doors are locked and just barely crack the window to be heard. Keep your engine running and leave if things don't seem right.

When driving alone at night, let a family member or friend know the route you take and your expected arrival time at your destination. Check in with them when you get there or ask them to call and check on you if you don't call by a designated time. Use the "buddy system" to look out for each other. Do the same when traveling out of town.

When driving alone at night, try to stay in the inner most or center lane (farther from the curb and sidewalk. Be aware of people standing on the side of the road at stop lights and corners. Do not crowd the car in front of you. Leave room to pull out if someone where to try and get into the car with you.

If you are in a minor accident, or someone bombs your car from the rear, do not get out, especially in remote areas, or at night. Only crack the window if you need to speak to the other driver. If anything looks suspicious or the other driver (people) begin to demand that you get out, DO NOT GET OUT! Tell the other driver that they can follow you to a police or fire station . If they still insist that you get out, leave immediately and go to a public place and call the police. If you are driving and think you are being followed, make several turns in one direction and head back the way you were going. It they are still behind you, go to the nearest police or fire station, or somewhere public. Do not stop or get out of the car. Have someone call the police for you.

Be alert. Watch for obvious strangers around your office, your home or apartment. Check for signs of a break-in before entering an empty house, office or car. Call the police if you see signs of forced entry-to a building or a car.

Call the police if you are experiencing any minor theft problems over a period of time.

If you think you are being followed while walking, change direction and head for a well-lit area with other people around. Cross to the other side of the street rather than confront a lone male in an isolated area.

If you are driving and think you are being followed, make several turns in one direction and head back the way you were going. It they are still behind you, go to the nearest police or fire station, or somewhere public. Do not stop or get out of the car. Have someone call the police for you.

Involve your associates. If you are expecting a delivery or a guest in your absence, leave your keys with a neighbor or a coworker. Let your office staff and neighbors know when you will be away from home and ask them to challenge strangers in the area.

Maintain a record of serial numbers of your property and of identification and credit cards. Include a brief description with each and keep this information in a safe place.

Report any crime or suspicious activity to the police. Be prepared to supply as much information as possible; such as descriptions of people, property and cars.

Post the number for the UAB Police Department-934-3535-near your phone at work and you local police and fire departments at home.

If you need to contact the Police while on campus, use one of the HELP phones located at key areas around campus. Take a few minutes now to review the Help Phone Map (see button below) to locate and identify HELP phones in those areas where you park, work, walk or play. Simply lifting the receiver of one of these green and yellow phones will put you through to the Police dispatcher immediately.