Assault

Stay alert. Be observant of your surroundings, who's in front and who's behind you. Don't get distracted. If you're worried about crime, ask a friend to accompany you when you go out.

Communicate the message that you're calm, confident, and know where you're going. Stand tall, walk purposefully, and make quick eye contact with people around you.

Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in a place or situation, leave.

Know your neighborhood. Is your route safe? Find out what stores and restaurants are open late and the locations of fire and police stations.

Help make your streets safer for everyone. Organize a Neighborhood Watch. Clean up neglected parks, vacant lots, cluttered alleys. Trim overgrown shrubbery. Lobby for good street lighting.

When working late:

• Lock your office door.
• Stay close to a phone.
• Don't wander into other parts of the building.
• Try to work late on nights when others work late and leave with someone else.

When riding the elevator late at night:

• Let security know you're coming down.
• Check the elevator for suspicious people before getting in
• Stand near the controls.
• Get off if someone suspicious gets on.
• If attacked, hit the alarm and as many floor buttons as possible.

When going home late:

• Ask building security for an escort to your car.
• While waiting for public transportation, stand near other people.
• If catching a bus, use a well-lighted and frequently used stop.
• Sit near the bus driver or conductor.
• Watch who gets off the bus or subway with you. If you feel uncomfortable, go directly to a place where there are other people.

Four Myths About Sexual Assault

MYTH: Rape is motivated by sexual desire.
FACT: Rape is an act of violence, not sexual passion. It is an attempt to hurt and humiliate, using sex as the weapon.

MYTH: Most women are raped by strangers in high-risk situations - hitchhiking, walking alone at night, going alone to a bar.
FACT: Rape can happen in these situations, but approximately one-third of all victims are attacked in their homes and in over half the reported rapes, women know their attackers.

MYTH: Women invite rape by dressing seductively.
FACT: Victims do not cause rape. It can happen to anyone - children, grandmothers, students, working women, mothers, wives, the rich and the poor. Rape victims often are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

MYTH: The majority of rapists rape only once.
FACT: Most rapists continue until caught. And rape is one of the most under-reported crimes.

APD Crime Prevention 768-2006