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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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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