Crime Prevention
Modesto Junior College is a safe place to be and a large part of that is your involvement and awareness. The following crime prevention tips may assist you in keeping yourself safe while on or off campus.
Auto Theft | Robbery |
Campus Safety Services |
Bicycle Theft | Opportunity Theft | Traffic Safety on Campus |
General Safety | Night Time Personal Safety | REPORTING CRIMES ON CAMPUS |
Auto Theft
Modesto has made the 10 ten list for Automobile theft for several years. Most students, faculty, and staff commute to campus by car. The number of auto thefts on campus may seem small, but to Campus Safety, even one auto theft is too many. Knowledge is the key to preventing this crime. Want to protect yourself? Take a look at our crime prevention tips listed below.
- Remove your keys
- Always lock your vehicle
- Roll up your windows
- Avoid leaving your car in unattended parking lots for a long period of time. A busy place offers a natural deterrent to auto theft.
- Consider a vehicle alarm that includes both audible and visual alarms
- Install an anti-theft device to deter those thieves looking for free transportation.
- Don't leave any valuables in sight; they are likely to tempt a thief.
- Don't hide spare keys; they can be found.
- Never leave your car running while it's unattended.
- Install tapered interior door lock buttons.
- If you have a car on the top 10 list consider putting a copy of you registration in your wallet
If your vehicle is stolen, don't panic. Promptly report the theft to the Campus Safety, the local Police and your insurance company. Have the following information with you when you make the report:
- Vehicle year
- Vehicle make
- VIN (vehicle identification number)
- Model
- Color - upper and lower
- License plate
- Owners information.
- Insurance company and policy number
Bicycle Theft
Locking your bicycle doesn't guarantee that it won't be stolen, but it certainly makes theft less likely. Not locking your bike is an invitation to steal. Don't leave your bike on campus without your lock.
- Park your bike in a well-lit area.
- Lock your bike to a bike rack.
- Use a good “U” lock. (Bicycles are expensive!)
If you have no way of identifying a stolen bike as yours, you probably won't ever see it again. If you record certain information, you'll have a better chance of recovering your bike.
- Record the serial number, make, model, size, color, and value.
- Keep the information in a safe place.
- Engrave your driver's license number in a secret area on your bike.
- Register your bike with Campus Safety
Registering Your Bike with Campus Safety is Free and Easy (See Operation ID)
To register your bike on campus, bring your bike to the Campus Safety Office, or participate in one of our Crime Prevention events.
Burglary
Campus Safety strives to eliminate burglary of our buildings through alarm systems, camera systems and a myriad of security locks. Be prepared to show Identification if found in a college facility, especially after hours. Burglary is a preventable problem please consider the following tips.
Burglary prevention tips (home and workplace)
- Securely lock all windows, doors, gates, and garage doors.
- Ensure that all sides of your home or workplace are well lit.
- Make your home looks occupied at all times with a few inner lights burning at night. Automatic timers can be used to vary the on/off pattern of interior lights when you are away.
- Install deadbolt locks in doors and locking devices on opening windows.
- Consider installing a burglar alarm and use signs to indicate the presence of a dog or alarm system.
- Get a dog.
- Engrave or mark valuable property for identification.
- When away from home, leave a radio playing.
- Get to know your neighbors and coworkers.
- When possible, join or start a neighborhood watch program on your street.
Burglary prevention tips (Vehicle)
- Always lock your vehicle, roll up your windows
- Don't leave any valuables in sight; they are likely to tempt a thief.
- Avoid leaving your car in unattended parking lots for a long period of time.
- Consider a vehicle alarm that includes both audible and visual alarms
- Check who is around you when you park
- Always park in open well lit areas.
- Install tapered interior door lock buttons.
General Safety
- Walk and jog with a friend.
- Stay away from isolated areas.
- Try to stay near streetlights.
- Hold your purse, briefcase, and other belongings close to your body.
- Place your wallet in your front pocket instead of your back pocket to discourage pickpockets.
- Know your surroundings and where to go for help.
- Walk with confidence and purpose
- Pay attention to your surroundings!
- Don’t text and walk. People vs People & People vs objects collisions happen. Look up!
- Put Campus Safety # in your telephone. 209-575-6351
Robbery
Robbery is an uncommon crime at Modesto Junior College. Robbery nevertheless is a violent crime that demands a high degree of caution from us all.
Tips for avoiding robbery while walking or jogging
- Go with someone.
- Stay away from isolated areas.
- Try to stay near streetlights.
- Beware of who is around you.
Tips for avoiding being followed by a robber
- Cross the street or change directions.
- Keep looking back so the person knows you can’t be surprised.
- Go to a well-lighted building, location, and/or public facility (preferably where there are many people).
- Notice and remember as much as possible about the person following you so you can provide a description later.
Tips on what to do if you are held up in a robbery
- Don’t resist. No amount of money is worth taking chances with your life.
- Notify the Campus Safety or local police immediately (dial 9-1-1).
- Try to give a description, including approximate age, height, and weight as well as details on hair, clothing, jewelry, tattoos, and anything that is noticeable.
We hope that these tips will help prevent you from becoming a burglary or robbery statistic, but even they are not always guaranteed to work. If you are victimized, don’t panic. Remember to take the following steps to ensure your safety and help the police:
- Observe the direction and vehicle(s) in which the suspect(s) flee.
- Resist any temptation to follow or capture the suspect.
- If you are in a building, lock the doors to prevent the suspect’s return.
- Promptly report the crime to the police.
- Protect the crime scene location until police arrive to search for evidence.
- Write down a description of the suspect(s).
- Resist the temptation to collaborate your description with other witnesses. The police will resolve differences in descriptions later.
Night-time Campus Safety
It is important to know that anyone can personally take steps to protect himself or herself, especially at night. We hope these late-night safety tips will help you avoid becoming a crime victim both on and off campus. We also encourage you to take advantage of the student escort program.
Nighttime Personal Safety Tips
- When possible, avoid walking alone. Walk with someone or walk in areas where other people are nearby.
- Stay in well-lighted areas away from alleys, bushes, and entryways.
- Avoid shortcuts through parks, vacant lots, and other deserted places.
- Don’t hitchhike or accept rides from strangers.
- If a driver stops to ask you for directions, avoid getting near the car.
- If you are being followed, go to the nearest business or residence for help.
- If you are harassed by the occupant(s) of a car, simply turn and walk in the other direction. The driver will have to turn around to follow you.
- Hold your backpack and/or purse close, not dangling, and avoid carrying extra money or valuables on your person.
- When you return home, have your door key ready so that you can enter without delay.
- Above all, be aware of the people around you and always try to be cognizant of your environment.
Campus Safety Services
- Student Escort Program provides security escort services for individuals to any campus area Monday through Thursday from 6-10. Call Campus Safety at 575-6351
- Campus Safety provides and monitors a network of emergency call boxes across the campus, which are scattered throughout the campus and are illuminated with blue lights for easier viewing at night. Should you need assistance from Campus Safety these boxes will directly connect you with the Dispatcher.
- More Campus Safety Services
Opportunity Theft
Opportunity theft is the most prevalent crime on any college campus. Students are often distracted with all the tasks of college life, but this type of crime can be prevented.
- Always maintain possession of your books and valuables.
- Never leave them unattended to search for a book or leave to use the restroom.
- Put a tracker on your telephone/computer
Victims often tell us that they left only for a minute and came back to find their property gone. One solution is to ask a friend to watch your gear if it is not practical to take with you.
Traffic Safety on Campus
On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 120 minutes and injured in a traffic crash every 9 minutes. Modesto Junior College is not immune to this problem; in fact Campus Safety responded to 44 vehicle accidents near the Campus in 2015. So what can you do to avoid becoming a statistic?
Tips for Pedestrians
- Always cross at marked crosswalks. You forfeit your pedestrian rights elsewhere.
- Do not cross in the middle of the street or between parked cars.
- Obey any pedestrian signals and look both ways. Never run or dash into the street.
- Look before walking past stopped vehicles. Do not cross just because a driver waves you on.
- Make eye contact with drivers and watch out for traffic as you cross.
- Use sidewalks where provided. Where no sidewalks are provided, it is usually safer to walk facing road traffic.
Tips for Bicyclists
- Yield to pedestrians.
- Use marked bike paths or multi-use paths when available.
- Use extra caution as you transition between bike paths, roads, and sidewalks. Be aware that your actions are unpredictable to drivers and pedestrians.
- Communicate your intent to vehicles around you.
Know the Signs
- If the intersection has a pedestrian signal, press the button and wait for the signal’s "WALK" indicator.
- A flashing "DON'T WALK" signal means you should not start crossing the roadway. Pedestrians who have partially completed their crossing should finish crossing or proceed to a safety island.
- A steadily illuminated "DON'T WALK" indicator means it is not safe to enter the roadway.
- Obey any and all pedestrian signals and always cross at marked crosswalks whenever possible.
Tips for Drivers
- Obey all parking and traffic regulations.
- Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and at intersections.
- Be alert for bicyclists and skateboarders. They approach more swiftly than pedestrians.
- Never pass another vehicle that has stopped or is slowing down at a crosswalk.
- When you stop for a pedestrian, stop far enough back so that other drivers can also stop in time.
- Stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk when the pedestrian is crossing on your half of the road.
- Never drop anyone off from the middle of the road.