Personal Safety

Make personal safety and security a top priority in your life.  By taking a proactive approach, you can significantly reduce the risk of being criminally victimized.   Review and familiarize yourself with the following crime prevention personal safety tactics and suggestions.  Share them with your loved ones and friends.  

• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• Project confidence; walk purposefully, make eye contact with passers-by.
• Hold your belongings (purse, shopping bags, backpacks) close to your body.
• Carry your wallet inside your coat or in a front pocket.
• Park in well-lit areas, near businesses that are open, or where there are other people.
• When approaching your car, have your keys ready in hand.
• Check your back seat before entering the car.
• If you think you are being followed, change directions or cross the street.
• Be especially alert when using enclosed or underground parking structures.

If you encounter someone acting erratically while out on a walk:

• Maintain Distance: Keep a safe distance from the individual to avoid potential harm.
• Stay Calm: Do not engage with or confront the person. Stay calm and avoid drawing attention to yourself.
• Observe and Report: Take note of the person's appearance, behavior, and any distinguishing features. If it's safe to do so, observe from a distance and remember details that could be helpful to authorities.
• Call for Help: If the individual is a danger to themselves or others, contact local authorities (9-1-1 for emergencies or 310-458-8491 for the non-emergency dispatcher). Provide them with all the relevant information you've observed.