Personal Safety & Crime Prevention Tips

Basic Personal Safety

These tips, compiled by the University Police, apply wherever one resides. The precautions may lessen the likelihood of becoming a victim. Increasing awareness of crime prevention techniques may decrease the opportunity for a person to commit a criminal offense.

You are your own best protection.
Keep your door locked at all times. Don’t unlock the door for strangers. Keep first-floor windows locked.
Walk in well-lit areas and stay near the curb, away from alleys, entry ways and bushes where someone could be hiding.
Do not walk or jog alone after dark.
Avoid short cuts. Walk where there are other people present.
Do not hitchhike or accept rides from strangers. If a driver asks you for directions, stay far enough away so that you cannot be pulled into the car. Do not pick up strangers.
If you are being followed when walking, change directions, vary speed. Go to a well-lit area where there are other people. If followed by someone in a car, turn and walk in the other direction. Record the license number.
Park your car in a well-lit area and lock the doors.
If you need an escort to or from your car, call the University Police, 410-543-6222.
Report any suspicious activity or crimes to the University Police, located in the East Campus Complex, 410-543-6222.

Crime Prevention

Burglary & Home-Invasion Prevention
- Hosting a party at your residence can often result in uninvited guests gaining entry into the home. This can provide a would-be intruder an opportunity to scope out your property for a future burglary or robbery. In addition to money and valuables, criminals frequently seek access to illegal and prescription drugs. The presence of illegal drugs in the home can greatly increase your chance of becoming the victim of a home invasion.
- Keep doors and windows locked. Examine all possible points of entry into the home, including basement doors and windows, balconies, etc. Do not leave spare keys under a flowerpot, mat, or similar hiding place. Burglars find them.
- Do not open the door for someone that you do not know. A would-be intruder may attempt to gain entry through a ruse, such as by asking to use the telephone or impersonating a sales person. When in doubt, refuse entry and call the police.
- If you arrive home and you think that there has been a burglary, do not enter, as an intruder may still be inside.
- Call the police at first sign of a suspicious person. If you are able to provide a description of the suspect or his vehicle, then do so; however, if you do not have a description of the suspect do not approach the suspect or expose yourself to a greater risk just to obtain a description.
Vacation Tips / Residence Safety
Thanksgiving, Winter & Spring break are times when many students will be away from their off-campus apartment or house. The safety of these residences is of a great concern for police departments. Some off-campus residences have been burglarized during breaks in years past. Here are some crime prevention tips to be aware of while you are away on vacation:
- Make sure your residence appears lived in - not empty
- Have your mail stopped at the post office or have someone collect the mail for you
- Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on the property while you are gone
- Use timers to turn on lights, televisions or radios while you are gone
- Do not announce your absence on your voicemail or social media
- Try to leave a vehicle parked in your driveway while you are gone
- Take valuables with you
- Ask the local police to conduct patrol checks of your residence while you are away
Robbery
- Assume the robber is armed, even if you don't see a weapon.
- If a weapon is displayed, consider it to be real and loaded.
- Attempt to get a good, complete description of the robber, - taking note of unique and unusual characteristics.
- Always keep in mind that your personal property can be replaced. In most incidents, complying with the robber's demands is the safest choice. Only if your life is clearly in imminent danger should you resist or attempt to escape. Your resistance could likely be met with an escalation of violence from the robber. Assess your situation and make the decision to react that best suits your particular circumstances.
Bicycle Theft
- Always lock your bicycle, regardless of how long you will be away from it or how much it costs.
- Only lock your bicycle to approved racks, not to trees or sign posts.
- Use a hardened steel U-lock. The majority of the bicycles stolen on campus were left unsecured or were secured with a cable lock.
- Quick release tires and adjustable bicycle seats examples of parts that are frequently stolen. If it can be easily removed, it can easily be stolen.
- Engrave identifying markings on anything removable to aid in recovery if stolen.
- Remove the quick releases altogether and bolt the parts onto the bicycle. This may make changing a flat tire harder, but it will slow down and deter thieves. You can also consider removing the quick release parts when you park and take the parts with you.
The University Police Department encourages you to register your bicycle for free through our online website. Registering aids in identification and recovery should your bike be stolen. In addition, any personalization on your bike (stickers, marking, etc.) should be documented in case your bike is stolen. This will make it easier for police to identify. All of this information should be stored and saved along with purchase receipts, manufacturer’s information, and serial number.

Pedestrian & Bicycle Traffic Safety

The streets, parking lots and sidewalks on and around the Salisbury University campus are frequently busy with motor vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Bicyclists and skateboarders traveling on campus sidewalks, and employees operating golf or utility carts, must be keenly attentive to their surroundings. Pedestrians must recognize that these potential hazards exist at all sidewalk intersections. It is the responsibility of both the pedestrian and the individual operating the special vehicle to give full time and attention to his or her surroundings and to exercise due diligence to avoid a collision. Talking on a cell phone, texting and wearing headphones are all potential distractors which can contribute to an accident.

In recent years, many of the area crosswalks have been enhanced with pedestrian activated lights to warn motorists that a pedestrian is attempting to cross the road. Pedestrians wishing to cross a roadway at this type of crosswalk should push the activation button before attempting to cross. Once activated, the lights flash for 20 seconds. Before entering the crosswalk, pedestrians should make sure that all vehicles have come to a complete stop.

Where a sidewalk is provided, a pedestrian may not walk along and on an adjacent roadway. Where a sidewalk is not provided, a pedestrian may only walk on the left side of the roadway as near as practicable to the edge of the roadway, facing approaching traffic.

Regardless of who has the right-of-way, pedestrians, bicyclist and motorists are responsible for using reasonable care and diligence to avoid injuring anyone who, although carelessly, may be in the other's right-of-way.

Important Contacts

Salisbury City Police: 410-548-3165
Wicomico County Sheriff: 410-548-4891
Fruitland Police: 410-548-2803
Maryland State Police (Salisbury): 410-749-3101