Pikeville College - Business Affairs - Department of Safety & Security

Crime Prevention

Crime prevention is defined as the anticipation, recognition and appraisal of a crime risk and the initiation of some action to remove or reduce that risk. Many campuses around the country investigate and make public the nature and quantity of crimes, as well as how crimes are investigated. Pikeville College subscribes to that approach and further believes that the public should know how active the campus security department is in crime prevention and detection.Pikeville College has experienced success at reducing and preventing crime.

Some of the notable efforts are:

• emergency 911 dialing
• 24-hour preventative patrols
• campus foot patrol by uniformed officers
• 24-hour staff in residence halls
• custodial staff occupy many academic buildings after hours and provide information to the Pikeville College safety and security department about suspicious activity or persons in or around the building
• crime prevention seminars and presentations conducted each semester with staff and student groups
• crime prevention pamphlets available for students and employees
• lighting survey

To schedule a crime prevention visit or presentation, call (606) 218-5940 Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition to preventing crime, considerable effort is devoted to crime intervention. All reported crimes are investigated immediately. Follow-up investigations occur to identify the offenders. Where multiple incidents occur, surveillance techniques may be implemented to help apprehend violators. When caught, offenders are dealt with through the Pike County court system and Pikeville College when appropriate. The Department of Safety and Security encourages the accurate and prompt reporting of criminal incidents, no matter how insignificant or small. Victims are encouraged to insist upon a proper investigation and subsequent filing of charges. Victims are further encouraged to insist on restitution or compensation for losses and demand severe sanctions. Through these measures, Pikeville College will become a safer community.

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Avoid victimization

Property protection

1. Lock your door whenever you leave your room for any length of time or when sleeping. Always lock all car doors.
2. Never prop open any door.
3. Adequately protect all valuables in your room, such as wallets, jewelry, credit cards, cash and computers. Do not leave valuables or cash in plain view.
4. Protect your books and put your name in them.
5. Do not loan your keys to anyone.
6. Never hide your keys outside your apartment or room. Do not put your name or address on your keys.
7. Take all valuable items home with you during vacations.
8. When in a public place, keep valuable possessions out of sight.
9. Participate in “Operation Identification” in cooperation with the College Department of Safety and Security.

“Operation Identification” is a crime prevention project to protect your possessions from theft.

1. Obtain “Operation Identification” materials from the Pikeville College Department of Safety and Security.
2. Itemize your possessions on a file card. Record the description and serial numbers.
3. The Pikeville College Department of Safety and Security has available an electric engraver that you may use to engrave your license number, social security number or other identifying marks on your valuables.

Note: Computers, VCR’s, CD players, DVD players, cash and jewelry are items particularly susceptible to theft.

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Personal safety

At home, in an apartment building or in a residence hall:

1. Keep your room door locked when you are napping or sleeping.
2. Never let unauthorized persons come into your room, enter residence halls or enter apartment security doors. Always ask to see proper identification. Any suspicious activity should be reported to security immediately.
3. Never prop open inside or outside doors.
4. Do not hide keys outside of your room or apartment. Do not put our name or address on your keys.
5. Avoid working or studying alone in a campus building.
6. Never dress in front of a window. Draw blinds or curtains after dark.
7. If an intruder awakens you inside your room, do not attempt to apprehend an intruder. Try to get accurate description of the intruder and then call security.

When driving:

1. Carry your car keys when approaching your vehicle so you can enter quickly.
2. Lock your doors and keep windows rolled up whenever possible. Always check underneath your car and in the rear seat for intruders before entering your automobile.
3. Drive on well-traveled and well-lit streets.
4. Never hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers.
5. If someone tries to enter your stopped vehicle, sound the horn and drive to a safe area such as a convenience store.
6. If your vehicle breaks down, ask any person who stops to help to call the police. Do not allow any person access to you or inside your car. Roll down your window no more than an inch. Be aware that an accident may be staged to provide the other driver an opportunity to commit a criminal act.
7. Leave enough room between your car and the one ahead so you can drive around it if necessary.
8. Call ahead when driving to your home or apartment late at night and have someone watch you walk from your car to the residence.

While walking or jogging:

1. Avoid walking or jogging alone and try not to walk or jog after dark.
2. Avoid dark or vacant areas. Walk along well-lit routes.
3. Be alert to your surroundings. If you suspect you are being followed, run in a different direction, go to the other side of the street and yell for help or move quickly to a lighted area or a group of people.
4. Have your keys ready when returning to your residence hall or apartment. Keep your personal or valuable items concealed and close to your body.

Harassing phone calls

Telephone harassment is both a nuisance and a crime and will not be tolerated on the PikevilleCollege campus. If you are a victim of telephone harassment, please follow these steps:

1. As soon as you realize the nature of the call, hang up. Remain calm and replace the receiver on the telephone as you normally would for any call.
2. Do not talk to or try to discover the caller’s identity.
3. If calling persists, or if any call is obscene or threatening, call security at once. If off campus, call the police and report the activity.
4. If calling persists, keep a time log of calls received, what was said by all parties and a description of the voice.

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Steps to follow if you see suspicious activity or persons

If you see any suspicious activity or person(s) on or near the campus, it is your responsibility to call security at (606) 218-5940 (office), (606) 477-0262 (cell), (606) 433-3945 (pager) or dial 911 for emergencies.

Do not assume what you see is an innocent activity or that another individual has already called security. Do not worry about being embarrassed; rather, think about what could happen if you do not act.

Suspicious persons may include:

• person(s) loitering about at unusual hours and locations.
• person(s) running, especially if something of value is being carried.
• person(s) exhibiting unusual mental or physical symptoms. They could be under the influence of drugs or needing medical or psychiatric assistance.
• person(s) carrying property that might be suspicious, depending on the circumstances.
• person(s) going from room to room trying door knobs.

Do not assume the person may be a visitor or college staff that you have not seen before. Call security immediately.

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Counseling services

In cooperation with the Pikeville College Department of Safety and Security, the Office of Student Services offers referrals to counseling services for all types of needs. These services are confidential and voluntary. If you would like to speak to a counselor, contact the Office of Student Services at (606) 218-5224.

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