Assault Prevention
Street smarts for busy people:
- Stay alert. Be observant of your surroundings, who's in front
and who's behind you. Don't get distracted. If you're worried
about crime, ask a friend to accompany you when you go out.
- Communicate the message that you're calm, confident, and know
where you're going. Stand tall, walk purposefully, and make quick
eye contact with people around you.
- Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in a place or
situation, leave.
- Know your neighborhood. Is your route safe? Find out what stores
and restaurants are open late and the locations of fire and police
stations.
- Help make your streets safer for everyone. Organize a Neighborhood
Watch. Clean up neglected parks, vacant lots, cluttered alleys.
Trim overgrown shrubbery. Lobby for good street lighting.
When working late:
- Lock your office door.
- Stay close to a phone.
- Don't wander into other parts of the building.
- Try to work late on nights when others work late and leave with
someone else.
When riding the elevator late at night:
- Let security know you're coming down.
- Check the elevator for suspicious people before getting in
- Stand near the controls.
- Get off if someone suspicious gets on.
- If attacked, hit the alarm and as many floor buttons as possible.
When going home late:
- Ask building security for an escort to your car.
- While waiting for public transportation, stand near other people.
- If catching a bus, use a well-lighted and frequently used stop.
- Sit near the bus driver or conductor.
- Watch who gets off the bus or subway with you. If you feel uncomfortable,
go directly to a place where there are other people.
Four Myths About Sexual Assault
- MYTH: Rape is motivated by sexual desire.
FACT: Rape is an act of violence, not sexual passion. It is an
attempt to hurt and humiliate, using sex as the weapon.
- MYTH: Most women are raped by strangers in high-risk situations
- hitchhiking, walking alone at night, going alone to a bar.
FACT: Rape can happen in these situations, but approximately one-third
of all victims are attacked in their homes and in over half the
reported rapes, women know their attackers.
- MYTH: Women invite rape by dressing seductively.
FACT: Victims do not cause rape. It can happen to anyone - children,
grandmothers, students, working women, mothers, wives, the rich
and the poor. Rape victims often are simply in the wrong place
at the wrong time.
- MYTH: The majority of rapists rape only once.
FACT: Most rapists continue until caught. And rape is one of the
most underreported crimes.
APD Crime Prevention 924-3600