Crime Prevention & Personal Safety
November 2003

Property Crimes on Campus

• Lock your vehicle.
• Place valuable items (books, purses, backpacks, CDs, sports equipment, etc.) under the seat or in the trunk, out of view.
• Park and lock bicycles at the bicycle racks.
• Keep your belongings with you at all times.
• Mark your textbooks. Pick one page number and place your last name or other distinctive marking in a small area near the binding in each of your textbooks. This will help identify the book if it becomes lost or stolen.
• Do not leave books, backpacks or purses on restroom shelves when using restrooms.
• Do not leave books, backpacks or purses in classrooms while on breaks.
• Do not leave valuables unattended in the library, cafeteria or student lounge areas.
• Employees should place purses and other personal items in a locked file cabinet or desk drawer while working.
• When placing your valuables in a locker, always use a lock.
• Make a list of your valuables and keep it in a safe place. Include an exact description and serial numbers.
• Mark personal property. The Department of Public Safety will furnish an engraver and assist in marking property for later identification.
• Avoid bringing large amounts of cash or expensive items on to campus.

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In the long run, students, employees and tax paying citizens help pay for school property.

• Lock offices and service doors when not in use.
• Notify Public Safety in increase Physical Security standards when multiple or high value items are being stored, long-term or short-term.
• Do not write or carve on walls, bathroom stalls, desks, couches or other articles or property.
• If you see someone else damaging property immediately report the incident to the Department of Public Safety.
• Couches and chairs are provided in lounge areas for the comfort of students and visitors. Please use caution when eating and drinking in those areas. Do not place shoes and feet on the furniture.
• All college staff members should lock offices and secure equipment when leaving the area.
• Missing equipment should be reported immediately to the Department of Public Safety.
• Broken locks, doors, or windows should be immediately reported to the Physical Plant or Department of Public Safety.
• People who seem lost or are lingering in your work or classroom areas should be immediately identified or assisted. If their actions or excuses for being in the area seem suspicious immediately contact the Department of Public Safety.
• Identify and observe service, repair and delivery persons while they are working on campus.
• If an individual refuses to identify him or herself to a college employee, immediately report this to the Department of Public Safety.

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• Do not delay in reporting thefts to the proper authority.
• If on campus contact the Department of Public Safety.
• If at an Off-Campus Site, Fire Science Center or PSOP contact the Local Police Department at the listed non-emergency number.

Important Telephone Numbers

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The Department of Public Safety accepts, accounts for, and records found property. Attempts are made to locate the owner and the property is stored for a reasonable amount of time before being disposed of.
If you have lost property on campus, immediately contact the Department of Public Safety if at the Belleville or Sam Wolf Granite City Campus.
If at Red Bud Campus contact the Office of the Provost.
If at PSOP contact the Director.
If at an Off-Campus Site contact the site coordinator, class instructor, or the Community Education Office located on the Belleville Campus, ext. 5540.
Illinois state law requires that persons who find lost or mislaid property must take reasonable measures to restore the property to the owner. Reasonable measures to restore property is to be interpreted as turning it into the Department of Public Safety in a timely manner. Finding textbooks and attempting to sell them to the bookstore is a criminal offense.

Do the right thing! Turn it in!

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