Crime Prevention and Safety Tips

Personal Safety Tips

• Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you.
• Be alert to potential danger. If something doesn't look right or feel right, trust your instincts.
• Anticipate possible problems and know where emergency and courtesy phones are located. Note: Emergency phones are identified by a blue light on top.
• Don't walk alone at night. Walk with friends whenever possible. If you must walk alone, stay in well lit and well traveled areas.
• Have your keys out and ready before reaching your door or vehicle.
• When walking to your vehicle, do a visual check of the area and other cars parked close to yours. Be aware of any places where someone could be hiding. Check in and around your vehicle before you get in.
• If you think someone is following you, change directions and call the police.
• Program University Police (828.251.6710) and other area law enforcement phone numbers into your cell phone.
• If you see something suspicious, such as someone driving aimlessly through parking lots or walking around looking into windows of parked vehicles, call the police immediately.
• "If Crime Strikes..." brochure

Residence Hall Security Tips

• Take responsibility for your own security.
• Keep your room door locked at all times. It only takes seconds for items to disappear.
• Don't give out your dorm security code.
• If you loose your key, report it immediately.
• Help keep the residence hall entrance doors secure. Don't prop them open.
• Don't bring valuable jewelry, antiques or heirlooms to campus.
• Record model and serial numbers of your stereo equipment, computers, ipods, televisions and appliances. You can register these items with University Police and request to have an ID number or name engraved on them.
• Don't make purchases from door to door sales people. It is against university policy and more often than not, these are con artists focusing on college students.
• Keep a close eye on your cash, credit cards and checkbook. Pay particular attention to checks missing from the middle of your checkbook.
• Don't bring firearms or other weapons such as knives, swords, air powered guns, bows and arrows or fireworks on campus. It is a violation of state law and it puts everyone else at risk.

Vehicle Security Tips

• Keep your car doors locked and windows up at all times.
• Don't leave purses, wallets or other valuable items in plain view. Put them under the seat, in the trunk or take them with you. Thieves take items they can see so don't give them an easy target.
• Stereos, speakers and CD's are favorite targets for thieves, even if your doors are locked. It is not uncommon for thieves to bust windows or slim jim the locks.
• Park in well lit and well traveled areas.
• If you have a bicycle, record the brand name, model and serial numbers and register it with University Police.

Active Shooter Safety Tips

• Secure immediate area by locking and barricading doors.
• Turn off lights
• Close blinds
• Block windows
• Turn off radios and computer monitors
• Silence cell phones
• Avoid public restrooms if possible
• Keep yourself out of sight and take adequate cover behind concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets and anything else that may help protect you from bullets.
• Remember that the shooter will not likely stop shooting until engaged by an outside force.
• Consider risks before un-securing rooms
• Attempts to rescue people should only be attempted if it can be accomplished without further endangering the persons inside a secured area.

What to Report:

• Your specific location - building name and room number
• Number of people at your specific location
• Injuries - number injured and what types of injuries
• Assailant Information - number of suspects, their location, race and gender, clothing description, physical features and types of weapons they have (long gun or hand gun), backpack and the shooters identity if known.

Police Response:

• Objective is to immediately engage assailant(s)
• Evacuate victims
• Facilitate follow up of medical care, interviews, counseling
• Investigation

Contacting Authorities:

• For on-campus emergencies, dial 6710 from an on-campus phone, or 828.251.6710 from any other phone. For off-campus emergencies, dial 911.
• Be aware that phone lines will likely be overwhelmed. Program these numbers in your cell phone to help you be prepared.

Suspicious Mail / Package Procedures

Recent events have prompted UNC Asheville to implement procedures to help screen mail for suspicious items. University Police has instructed the Mail Services staff and student workers on safety precautions and mail screening. University Police is staying in contact with federal, state and local public health and law enforcement officials to ensure all procedures and information remain up to date. All available evidence indicates that there is little, if any, anthrax risk to the UNC Asheville community. Although UNC Asheville Mail Services will provide initial screening of incoming mail, the campus is urged to use care and vigilance in handling envelopes and packages at work and home. Should a suspicious letter or package be identified on campus, call University Police - dial 6710 from an on-campus phone, or 828.251.6710 from any other phone. University Police will respond and immediately secure the area and begin a preliminary investigation. University Police may be assisted by the Asheville Fire Department's Haz Mat Team or the Bomb Squad, and appropriate state and federal authorities, as needed. All reported incidents will be treated as a very serious matter and instances of hoaxes will be dealt with severely. Below is a summary of mail handling guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Postal Service. There is also a series of related links located at the bottom of this page.

Be alert: Be aware of letters or packages that have any kind of suspicious traits. These traits include the following:

• Any powdery substance on the outside.
• Handwritten or poorly typed addresses
• Misspellings of common words
• Incorrect or non-existent departments or position titles
• Excessive postage
• An unusual amount of tape
• Oily stains, discolorations or strange odors
• Have no return address, or have one that can't be verified as legitimate
• Are marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal" or "Confidential"

If you identify a suspicious letter or package, do not panic:

• Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package.
• Place the envelope or package in a plastic bag, wastebasket or other container and cover the container with clothing, paper, another wastebasket.
• Leave the room and close the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering.
• Wash your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.
• Call University Police - dial 6710 from an on-campus phone, or 828.251.6710 from any other phone.
• Make a list of those who were in the area of the letter or parcel and give the list to University Police.

If you have opened a letter or package that contains powder, do not panic:

• Do not try to clean up the powder.
• Cover the powder immediately with clothing, a trash can or other available means, and do not remove cover.
• Leave the room and close the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering.
• Wash your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.
• Call University Police - dial 6710 from an on-campus phone, or 828.251.6710 from any other phone.
• Remove, if possible, heavily contaminated clothing and place in a bag or waste basket. Give the clothing to the emergency responders for proper handling.
• Shower with soap and water as soon as possible. Do not use bleach or other disinfectant on your skin.
• Make a list of those who were in the area of the letter or parcel and give the list to University Police.

Room contamination by an aerosol product:

• Turn off fans or ventilation units in the area.
• Leave the room and close the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering
• Call University Police - dial 6710 from an on-campus phone, or 828.251.6710 from any other phone.
• University Police will contact Facilities Management to shut down the air handling system
• Make a list of those who were in the area and give the list to Campus Police.