Personal Security Tips

Crime prevention (dormitory)

• Always lock your door; even if you leave for a few minutes
• Close and lock your windows, when you leave
• Record the serial number, model and brand name of any valuables
• Computer equipment should be physically secured to your desk. You may contact the University Technology for assistance
• Do not allow an unescorted non-Lesley service representative into your room. Remember all non-Lesley service personnel should be escorted either by Public Safety or Physical Plant.
• Adhere to the Lesley University visitor policy outlined in this report
• Immediately report any and all suspicious activity to the Public Safety Office

Crime prevention (workplace)

• Always lock your doors and windows when you leave your area
• Never leave any valuable personal belongings in your office
• Limit the number of keys to your office, remember Public Safety can let someone into your office in your absence (we are always here)
• Immediately report any missing items from your office to Public Safety

Crime prevention (ATM Machines)

• Commit your Personal Identification Number (PIN) to memory, never write it down
• Keep your receipts and verify all transactions on your monthly statement
• Immediately report a lost or stolen card to your bank
• If possible, have a friend go with you when you use an ATM at night
• Fill out the transaction form before hand and have your card ready for use
• If someone suspicious is either near or inside the ATM go to another machine

Fire Safety Precautions (Office or Dormitory)

• Familiarize yourself with the locations of the emergency exits, extinguishers and fire alarm pull stations nearest to your room.
• Have a prearranged fire exit route planned with alternative paths in case your primary route is not accessible.
• Always exit the building when a fire alarm sounds (mandatory requirement of the City of Boston and the City of Cambridge).
• If you discover a fire, activate the nearest fire alarm pull station and exit the building immediately. Please move as far away from the building as possible. Do not reenter the building until you have been told by a Fire Department Official or Lesley Public Safety that it is safe to do so.
• Remember it is extremely dangerous and a felony offense to cause a false alarm. Any individual found to be responsible for setting a false alarm is subject to a $500 fine, and will be subject to suspension from the University.

Harassing or Threatening Telephone Calls

Harassing, obscene or threatening telephone calls or e-mails are illegal and are punishable by fines and/or imprisonment. If you are subjected to annoying telephone calls or e-mails you should report them to Public Safety immediately. Lesley Public Safety will investigate the incident, notify the local Police Department (to open a case file) and contact the Verizon Annoyance Department to set a trace, if the situation warrants such action.

Domestic Abuse/Date Violence

Abuse is defined by law as the occurrence of one of the following acts between members of a family, household, or substantive dating relationship

• Attempting to cause or causing physical harm
• Placing another in fear of imminent physical harm
• Causing another to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by force, threat or duress

The city of Boston and the city of Cambridge take all incidents of domestic/date violence very seriously. Any member of the Lesley community who has been subjected to violence as described above should seek help through Public Safety. Our Office has resources and contacts within both cities that will help stop the violence. Further, we can assist you with executing an Abuse Prevention Order and help develop a personal safety plan.

Date Rape Drugs

Date rape drugs are given to unsuspecting individuals to induce sleep and memory loss so a perpetrator can sexually assault them.  The following are safety precautions you can use to avoid becoming a victim of date rape drugs:

• Don't drink beverages (including non-alcoholic) which you did not open yourself
• Don't share or exchange drinks with anyone
• Don't take a drink from a punchbowl
• Don't drink from a container being passed around
• Bring your own beverages to a party
• If someone offers to buy you a drink, accompany that individual to the bar and watch closely as the drink is being poured and carry the drink yourself
• Don't leave your drink unattended ever
• Discard any drink that was left unattended
• Don't drink anything that has an unusual taste or appearance The following are precautions you and your friends can use to watch out for each other:
  1. Appoint a designated "sober" person when you go to parties, clubs or bars. Have a plan to periodically check on each other
  2. If a friend appears very intoxicated, gets sick after drinking a beverage, passes out, is difficult to wake, is having difficulty breathing, or is behaving in an uncharacteristic way, take steps to unsure your friend's safety. If necessary call 911.
  3. If you hear or witness someone "spiking" a drink or punch bowl, intervene. Confront that person, warn potential victims, discard the drink and get help.
   

Symptoms that you may have been drugged

• You experience memory lapse and you can't account for a period of time
• You feel more intoxicated than you usually respond to the amount of alcohol you consumed
• You feel someone had sex with you but you can't remember any or all of the incident

If you feel you have been drugged or have been a victim of a sexual assault contact the Public Safety Office for assistance. We will notify the local Police Department.

Internet Safety

Almost on a daily basis we hear or read about unsuspecting individuals who have become victims of undesirables who prey on unsuspecting people using the Internet. Many children have been abducted and others have placed themselves in compromising positions with total strangers. Individuals, had they met face to face, they would normally avoid. People you meet in cyberspace might not be who they seem to be.

Internet safety suggestions

• Only use your primary e-mail account for messages to and from people you know and trust
• Do not use your real name when creating an e-mail username or chat nickname; create something gender-neutral
• Never give out your address, phone number, or name of school
• Do not respond to any message that makes you feel uncomfortable
• Do not fill out profiles for your email account, chat rooms, instant messaging
• Set your options in chat or IM to block all users except those on your buddy list

If you are harassed or cyber-stalked

Remember, it is a crime to harass anyone by phone, email, fax, or via the internet. If you feel you are being harassed or cyber-stalked:

1. Save all communications, this may be valuable evidence
2. Change your e-mail address
3. Contact all online directory listings and request to be removed from their directory
4. Notify the Public Safety Office.

Identity Theft

Each year more innocent people become victims of Identity Theft. Most aren’t even aware they are victims until they receive enormous credit card bills, debt collectors begin calling or when they are denied credit.

Lesley community members can protect themselves from Identity Theft by understanding how and when you use your personal information. Keeping a close watch on your personal information will help reduce your chances of becoming an identity theft victim. Some precautions that will help you protect your personal information are:

• Memorize your Social Security number (SSN) and passwords. Don’t record your password on papers you carry with you.
• Never use your date of birth as your password
• Shred pre-approved credit applications and other financial documents before discarding them
• Order credit card reports every year from each of the major credit reporting agencies and thoroughly review for accuracy
• Never give out personal or financial information over the phone or the Internet unless you initiated the contact
• Don't carry your Social Security card or birth certificate with you
• Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately
• Check your monthly credit card statements for unusual activity
• Do not download files sent to you by strangers or click on hyperlinks from people you don’t know
• Minimize usage of your SSN (i.e. request a random # for your drivers license)

What to do if you become a victim of Identity Theft

1. Keep a detailed record of your correspondence and conversations
2. Contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus
   • Equifax: 1-800-685-111
   • Experian: 1-888-397-3742
   • TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800
    
3. Close all accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently
4. File a police report with your local police department

Contact Nicole A. O'Leary, Captain of Public Safety at (617) 349-8901 for more information regarding Identity Theft.