Introduction to Crime Awareness

According to the organization Citizens Against Crime, a crime against a person, such as murder, rape, robbery, or assault, occurs every seventeen seconds in the United States, and a property crime, such as burglary, larceny, or vehicle theft, occurs every two seconds.

These statistics show that crime is everywhere. If you take the proper precautions, you can decrease the chance that you will be victimized by a criminal. While it would be counterproductive to live in constant fear, it is important for you to be aware of crime and the steps you can take to decrease the chance of being a victim.

In order for you to effectively deter crime, you must know what the current crime trends are. Read the Campus Security Report located on this website.  Security Services will also occasionally notify the Trinity community of Crime Alerts by voice mail and by posting alerts on the Crime Alerts section of this website and around campus. Trinity, in compliance with federal law, also compiles crime statistics for certain offenses and reports them to the Department of Education for inclusion in a national report on crime on college campuses.

Remember that crimes occur only when criminals have the opportunity to commit crime. It is up to you to take that opportunity away from the criminal. Defeat the criminal before the criminal activity actually begins. To help you do this, we have given you tips on preventive steps you can take before you are victimized, and also steps you can take to prevent the crime from getting worse.

Crimes can generally be broken down into two categories: crimes against property and crimes against a person. Below we will look at each of these categories and tell you what steps you should take to avoid becoming a victim, but first make note of this simple summary of the rules to remember.

• Report all suspicious activity immediately to Security Services at x6400.
• Never take personal safety for granted.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Avoid shortcuts through dark, secluded areas. Stay where other people are visible
• Walk in a group, and walk with confidence.
• Avoid hats or other items that restrict your vision and earphones that impair your hearing.
• Never prop doors open. Not only are you putting yourself in danger, but everyone else residing in that building as well!
• Carry only the cash, credit cards, and ID that you expect to need.
• Always lock the door to your room whether or not you are there. Be certain that your door is locked when you go to sleep, and keep windows closed and locked when you are not at home.
• Lock all doors when driving your vehicle. Upon parking your vehicle, park in a well lit area, and secure your vehicle.
• Never admit strangers into secured buildings.
• Do not attach your ID to your keys or mark your keys with your name or address.
• If you need to store valuables in your car, place them out of sight or in your trunk.
• Have your keys in your hand as you approach your vehicle. Check the floor and backseat before entering your vehicle.

No method of crime prevention is guaranteed to work 100% of the time. However, in taking these steps, you are denying opportunities to would-be criminals, and you will be less likely to find yourself a victim. Be smart. Learn these steps, and make them a habit.