Department of Public Safety
University Police

Personal Safety

A common theme in crime prevention is awareness of your surroundings at all times. Our programs encourage students and employees to take responsibility for their own security and the security of others. The Department of Public Safety offers these safety recommendations:

Personal Safety

  • Enroll in the Aggression Defense Training course (for men and women).
  • Walk in well-lit, well-traveled areas of the campus.
  • When approaching your parked car, always have your car keys out and ready. Be aware of anyone near your car, and before you get in, check to see that no one is hiding inside.
  • Utilize the Campus Safety Shuttle on the Medford/Somerville campus. When the shuttle is not running, or on the Boston, SMFA, or Grafton campuses, utilize the University Police SafeRide service. Call the University Police on your campus to request an escort.
  • There are emergency blue-light telephones on all three campuses. Most of these phones have a keypad to dial campus numbers. All of the phones have a red emergency button that when pressed will dial the Tufts Police automatically. Become familiar with the locations of these phones.
  • Avoid using Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) at night if possible. If there are suspicious persons loitering around an ATM, DON'T USE IT-go to another ATM. Carry only necessary credit cards and cash.
  • Never attempt a physical confrontation with a suspicious person.
  • Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Keep your head up while walking and if you are wearing headphones, keep the volume low so you can hear things around you.
  • Staying Safe on the MBTA.

Report suspicious persons immediately to the University Police at 617-627-6911 or walk into one of our Station Locations.

Property and Belongings

  • Personal property should never be left unattended!
  • Computers should be secured down with pads or cables to reduce the opportunities for theft! Laptop computers SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT UNATTENDED!
  • Add or Activate your tracking software for your laptop! LoJack for Laptops or Preyproject.com are sites if you need to add tracking software.
  • The most common targets of theft on the campuses are small items such as wallets and pocketbooks. These articles should be kept with you or secured at all times! When hanging up your coat, take the valuables out of the pocket and keep them with you or lock them up. A coat pocket is one of the most inviting places for a thief entering an office area.
  • Petty cash-No more than one or two people should be responsible for accounting for your petty cash. Select one centralized location, such as a secured file in an inner office to store your locked metal cash box.
  • Office and Laboratory doors should be locked when the room is not being used.
  • Valuables should be locked in the trunk of your car and not left in plain view!
  • Keep track of office keys in your possession, storing them in a secure place and not handing them out to unauthorized persons.

Laptop Security Video

If you have any questions or you want to have the plate added to your device for FREE, please contact Sgt. Duane Weisse Community Policing/Crime Prevention Unit 617-627-3030.

Report suspicious persons immediately to the University Police at extension 66911 (see Station Locations for phone numbers from off-campus or cellular phones).

Resident Halls

  • Keep the door to your residence hall room locked at all times!
  • Always find out who is knocking before you open the door.
  • Do not prop open or tamper with exterior doors. These doors are locked for your protection.
  • Do not loan your keys to anyone! They may not be as careful with them as you are and may lose or misplace them, just long enough for the wrong person to gain possession.
  • Do not leave your keys lying around in public places!
  • When leaving the campus for the holiday break periods, ensure that ground-level windows and windows accessible by exterior fire escapes are locked! LOCK YOUR ROOM DOOR BEFORE YOU LEAVE!
  • Many ground-level windows and windows accessible by exterior fire escapes are equipped with security screens. These devices should be left secured at all times for your protection! In the event of a fire, the screen can be opened by pushing down on the lever opening device.

Report suspicious persons immediately to the University Police at extension 617-627-66911 (see Contact Us for phone numbers from off-campus or cellular phones).

Vehicles

  • Never leave your keys in an unattended car, even while running a quick errand, and always lock your car and pocket the keys.
  • Potential car thieves often note identification numbers printed on ignition keys and can obtain duplicates through car dealers by presenting the key number and posing as the car's owner. Car dealers or locksmiths can punch out these numbers from your keys, eliminating the problem. Before having this done, however, record these numbers in a safe place in case you need duplicates.
  • Never attach a tag with your name and address to a key ring. If the keys are lost or stolen, the tag will lead the thief directly to your car and your home. While you're at it, leave only the ignition key with a parking attendant. A dishonest parking lot attendant may have house keys duplicated and sell them, along with your name and address, for a tidy profit.
  • Avoid leaving an auto unattended in public parking lots for an extended period. A car is five times more likely to be stolen from an unattended lot than from the street or an attended lot.
  • At night, park in well-lighted areas with pedestrian traffic. Auto thieves don't like working in spots where they are visible.
  • Whenever possible, turn wheels sharply toward the curb when parking, making it extra difficult for thieves to tow your car.
  • With an electric engraver, etch your operator's license number on GPS Units, and similar items. Consider engraving the same number in several places under the hood, on car doors, trunk lid, or other conspicuous places so that an identification can be made of your vehicle if it is recovered after theft.
  • Consider the purchase and installation of security devices, such as:
    • Interior hood lock and release.
    • A second ignition switch or "kill switch" which prevents electrical current from reaching the coil.
    • A steering wheel lock.
    • An alarm device that will activate a siren, horn, or lights
    • or all of these.
  • When you park the car remove valuables from the passenger area. Visible valuable items, tempt thieves and should be locked in the trunk.
  • If your car gets stolen or vandalized, notify the Tufts Police immediately (see Contact Us). Please have the following information ready: your license plate number and state, the vehicle make, model, color, and year, the vehicle identification number, and also provide a list of distinctive features and special accessories and their serial numbers.

Suspicious Behavior

  • Wandering through backyards, around houses, or inside hallways
  • Checking for unlocked doors
  • Climbing in windows
  • Carrying possibly stolen items out of homes or loading them into a vehicle
  • Knocking on doors and appearing lost or soliciting work if someone answers the door
  • Is inside the residence acting as a guest, yet no one knows who he or she is
  • While inside the residence is observed looking in rooms away from areas of socialization, feigning being lost
  • Always close and lock doors and windows regardless of the time of day. If you choose to open your windows due to warm weather, consider using window stops to prevent easy access.