Department of Public Safety | Blog

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To view the Daily Incident Reports, please Click Here

Public Safety Tip of the Day: 

SAFELY CARRYING VALUABLES

• Handbags should be closed, carried in front of the body with an arm held loosely across it. A bag dangling by your side is much easier for a thief to grab on the run.
• If wearing a handbag with a strap over the head, choose a thin strap, and wear it under your coat. This makes it harder for the robber to grab the strap. A hard yank on a strap may cause a fall and an injury.
• Many women find they don’t need to carry a handbag all the time. Place essentials (keys, small amount of cash, I.D.) in a pocket.
• Avoid carrying house keys in your handbag. Instead, carry keys in a pocket. Chances are your address is on a document in the bag. If the thief has your keys and address he/she has easy entry to your home.
• Consider reducing the items of personal or sentimental value that you routinely carry. Losing family photos, address books, and important papers is usually more traumatic to victims than financial loss.
• If you must carry a large amount of cash or valuable items, do not carry them in your handbag or wallet. Carry valuables in an inside pocket.

Thank you,

Hello,

To view the Daily Incident Reports, please Click Here

Public Safety Tip of the Day: 

Pedestrian Safety Continued:

• Remember: Telephone poles, utility boxes and parked vehicles block on-coming drivers ability to see you.
• Arrive early for buses and trains, but not so early that you have a long waiting time.  Stay out of the street and to wait for the bus or light rail train to come to a complete stop before approaching the street.
• Avoid walking while listening to an IPod or MP-3, Walkman, Discman, etc. with earbuds or headphones; this cuts down your awareness of what’s happening around you and impedes your ability to hear oncoming traffic.
• Develop a plan before you see trouble. Crossing a street or entering a store may get you out of a potentially bad situation.
• If a car follows you or beckons you while you are walking, do not approach it. Instead, turn and quickly walk the opposite direction.
• Wear clothing and shoes that you can move freely and quickly in, especially when walking or waiting for the bus or Light Rail.
• Carry minimal items; overloading yourself can make you appear vulnerable.
• Always hold a child by the hand while crossing the street and remember, WALK don’t run.

Thank you

Hello,

To view the Daily Incident Reports, please Click Here

Public Safety Tip of the Day: 

Pedestrian Safety:

• Look both directions before crossing a roadway.
• Never cross the street against a red light, even if you don’t see any traffic coming.
• Plan a safe walking route to school or the bus/transit stop.  Choose the most direct way with the fewest street crossings and if possible, with intersections that have traffic controls.
• See and be seen — drivers need to see you to avoid you.  Wear bright/light colored clothing or reflective clothing at night so drivers see you.
• Pedestrians should make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy streets to ensure they have been seen..
• Pedestrians do not have the right of way when crossing mid-block.  Cross streets only at street corners or marked crosswalks or intersections.  Crossing at locations that have traffic signals helps motorists see you.
• Give drivers ample time to stop prior to your entering the crosswalk.
• Do not run across a dark street to catch a bus; cross at crosswalks or intersections.
• If a car is parked where you are trying to cross, look for drivers who may pull out and not see you as they looking for traffic.

Thank you

Hello,

To view the Daily Incident Reports, please Click Here

Public Safety Tip of the Day:

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY:

• Pay close attention to your surroundings, avoid “automatic pilot”
• Pay special attention to all traffic signals and crossing guards.
• Use common sense; plan your route to avoid uninhabited parks, parking lots, garages and alleyways.  Stick to well-lit areas.
• Pick routes with sidewalks with good lighting and clear visibility.
• Walk with purpose; project a confident image.
• Always walk on the sidewalk.  If there is no sidewalk and you must walk in the roadway, always walk facing traffic.

Thank you

Hello,

To view the Daily Incident Reports, please Click Here

Public Safety Tip of the Day:

Carjacking: If it happens to you

Hello,

There were NO Incident Reports taken by IITPSD for 3/5/2013.

 Public Safety Tip of the Day:

Carjacking:  Getting Out Of Your Car.

• Park in well-lighted areas, near sidewalks or walkways. Avoid parking near dumpsters, woods, large vans or trucks, or anything else that limits your visibility.

• Never leave valuables in plain view, even if the car is locked. Put them in the trunk or out of sight.

• Try to park in a garage with an attendant. Leave only the ignition key, with no personal identification.

• Even if you are rushed, look around before you get out and stay alert to your surroundings.

Thank you

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How to avoid a Carjacking while you are driving.

• Drive in the inside (center) lane to make it more difficult for would-be carjackers to approach your car.
• Don’t stop to assist a stranger whose car has broken down. Instead, help by driving to the nearest phone or using your cell phone to call the police for help.
• Always be aware of your surroundings.  If a situation does not seem safe to you as you come to a stop, or are about to park, drive away to analyze the situation.  You can always come back later, but trust your initial instincts.

Thank you

Hello,

How to avoid a Carjacking while you are driving.

• Keep your doors and windows locked, no matter how short the distance or how “safe” the neighborhood.
• When you’re coming to a stop, leave enough space to maneuver around other cars. If you sense trouble, this will allow you the room needed to get away.
• If a suspicious-looking person approaches your car, drive away carefully. In extreme situations, you might even consider going through a traffic light, as long as you can do so without causing an accident.

Thank you,

342013

Hello,

Carjacking reduce your risk- Before you get in your car:

• Be alert to any activity near your car. Pay attention to your surroundings.
• When approaching your car, have your key in your hand, and check the back seat before you get in.
• If someone is loitering near your unoccupied car as you approach it, keep walking until the person leaves.
• Be wary of people asking for directions or handing out flyers. Trust your instincts – if something makes you feel uneasy, get into the car quickly, lock the doors and drive away.

Thank you,

312013

Hello,

Where are you most at risk for a Carjacking?

• Intersections controlled by traffic lights or stop signs.
• Parking garages, shopping malls and grocery stores.
• Self-service gas stations and car washes.
• Automated teller machines (ATM’s)
• Residential driveways and streets as people get in and out of their cars.
• Highway exit and entry ramps, or other places where drivers slow down or stop.

Thank you,

2282013