As we reach the peak of summer break, the campus continues to bustle with activity. I hope everyone is staying cool as we plan and prepare for the return of our students. Here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:
- Public Safety will be holding a R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) class this summer. R.A.D. is a series of self-defense classes for women. This program will be open to students, faculty, staff, and community members. The class will be held at MUSC, but we will be providing transportation to and from campus. Please email RAD@cofc.edu to sign up. Below are the dates and times for the summer class:
- Tuesday, 7/21/2015, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Thursday, 7/23/2015, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Tuesday, 7/28/2015, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Thursday, 7/30/2015, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Last week, our neighbors at MUSC experienced several thefts from on-campus buildings. Two unidentified suspects entered into various buildings, and took credit cards and a driver’s license from purses that were left unattended. As summer comes into full swing, and things on campus are quieting down, it can be easy to fall into the trap of complacency when it comes to personal safety and protecting your personal property. Please continue to lock your office or room doors, and store all valuables in a secure location. Taking these simple steps can greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of crime. Please report any suspicious activity to the Department of Public Safety at (843) 953-5611.
- National Campus Safety Awareness Month is in September. We have several events planned throughout the month. If your campus group or organization would like to team up with Public Safety on hosting a presentation or event, we would be more than happy to collaborate on this initiative. Please contact me at sloanm1@cofc.edu if you plan to participate.
- July is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month in the United States, when more cars are stolen than any other month. Vehicle theft is a very expensive crime, with the cost of stolen vehicles pegged at more than $4.1 billion. Over the past few weeks, there has been an increase in motor vehicle thefts and thefts from motor vehicles in the surrounding area. Never leave the vehicle running while unattended. Be sure to park in well-lit areas and avoid leaving valuable property inside your vehicle. Most importantly, always lock your vehicle. Trends in auto thefts indicate that over half of vehicles stolen are left unlocked at the time of theft. More information can be found here.
- The Department of Public Safety, Fire and EMS, and Emergency Management has teamed up to offer training for the various departments on campus. In this training, we will review emergency response procedures in potential situations such as active shooters, bomb threats, gas leaks, and fire alarms. Those who have attended this training found it to be extremely informative and helpful. In addition to reviewing emergency response procedures, we will also be available to answer any specific questions or areas of concern your team may have. We can attend a staff meeting, or make arrangements to come at another time that works best for your department. Please let me know if this is something you are interested in, or if you have any questions.
- Be social with us! If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.
Crime Prevention Tip:
In recent weeks, there has been a phone scam trend in the Charleston area. The caller either claims to be an IRS Agent and you owe taxes, or a Sheriff’s Deputy and you missed a Court Jury Duty. In both situations the caller claims that the resident will be arrested if they do not pay, and instructs the citizen to go to an area convenience store or Walmart and purchase pre-paid credit cards, and then to call a phone number to make payment. This information is false; law enforcement or the IRS will not call any citizen in this manner. If you receive this call, hang up immediately and contact local law enforcement.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.
Take Care and Be Safe,
PSO Madeline M. Sloan
Crime Prevention Specialist
Department of Public Safety
Office of the President
89 St. Philip Street
Charleston, SC 29424
(843)953-5609