Pay attention to “gut” feelings. Choose not to put yourself in an uncomfortable situation.
Look around before you leave a building or your car.
Get your keys in hand before leaving building so you aren’t distracted searching for them.
Keep your thumb on the "panic button" of your automatic door opener and push it if you feel uncomfortable or threatened. (You can also keep it beside your bed at home and push it if you hear an unusual noise and think someone might be in the house. )
Walk confidently.
Exchange heels for comfortable flats or walking shoes when walking to a destination.
Meet a person’s eyes briefly to show you aren’t afraid of them. It’s okay to nod, smile or speak, but keep walking as you do.
Carry your purse in front of your body.
Avoid talking on phone or wearing earphones that limit your hearing.
Never prop open a door.
Park in well lighted area.
LOCK your car!
Never leave items of value visible in your car. (Most of the crimes downtown are vehicle break-ins. Most of them because items were left in view.)
Walk with others if possible.
If you're in an accident and feel uncomfortable or are in an isolated area, drive to a location with people and lights. Call 911 on the way and explain the situation.
If your purse is snatched, don’t try to hang on to it. Instead, concentrate on the suspect: Clothes – Race & sex – Height & build – Complexion – Facial hair – Direction of travel.
Report it immediately!
Never get into a car with a stranger.
Never allow a stranger in your car.
Keep your doors locked.
If you feel threatened, RUN. Call loudly for help. Do the unexpected.
Don’t give panhandlers money - Don’t feel guilty about it: -- Many panhandlers aren’t homeless or in need. --Your change may be enabling an addiction. --Give your money and time to service agencies and programs that make real change. (Such as those listed in the Homeless Resource Guide.)
If you are approached by a panhandler, a suggested strategy: Meet the persons eyes briefly and in a firm voice say, “I’m sorry, I can’t give you money.” Then walk on. If you’re in the CAP Service Area, report it to CAP (251-0111). Report any aggressive behavior to the police (911), CAP, and security personnel nearby. (If the person is truly hungry or in need, CAP will send a STOP social worker to help them.)
Don't park or walk in alleys.
If you're working late, give CAP a call and we'll gladly escort you to your car.
Any weapon you carry can be used against you. Don’t carry a weapon unless you are proficient in its use and know when you will use it.
Your best weapon is your imagination. Practice by thinking about what you could do in different situations.
Always have someone know where you're going and when to expect you at your destination.
CAP recommends that you enter the person(s) who should be contacted in case of emergency into your cell phones as ICE. Or you can spell it out as, IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. Both the Birmingham Police Deptartment and Fire Department support this nationwide campaign.
--The CAP phone number (251-0111) is posted on all the parking meters downtown.--
Tough Love
It’s hard to look someone who appears in need in the eye and say “no.” It’s easier to dig out a spare quarter or a few dollars.After all, the man said he was hungry or he just needed enough to buy a bus ticket.That could be true.It could also be a con from a “professional panhandler.”Many panhandlers are not homeless.How do you know the difference?The best cons sound very sincere and play on your guilt for having all the things they don’t, but giving your change to someone doesn’t change anything.In many cases it enables people to continue living on the street.Your money may be going for food, but there is a better chance it is supporting an addiction.
PANHANDLING (BEGGING) IS UNLAWFUL: City Ordinance 96-188 and 11-6-14 While loitering in a public place * In an aggressive manner*On private property Using false information*At any transportation facility or on any vehicle*Using profane or abusive language*Using two or more persons*Using threatening gestures Using children*After sunset and before sunrise*Within 30 feet of any: Public restroom, Business entrance or exit, ATM, Bank deposit receptacle, Pay phone, street vendor, or Vending machine
What you can do:
--Report Panhandling!Call the police @ 911 or CAP @ 251-0111.CAP have stickers available designed for your cell phone, and their number is on every parking meter in their district. Note clothing and last seen direction.
--Dig in your pocket and give to the organizations that make changes in peoples’ lives.They are making differences every day.One such program, Street Homeless Outreach Program (STOP), a partnership between The Old Firehouse and CAP, assisted 140 homeless people off the street and into stable housing.
--Send them to the CAP office for a Homeless Resource Guide that will help connect them to resources in the community, including where to go for meals, shelter, clothing, job training, mental health and rehab services.
Tough to say no?Yes.But maybe it’s responsible love.
FOR YOUR SAFETY & PROTECTION:
If you have an emergency, call 911 as soon as possible. Be sure to tell the clerk answering the phone if the crime is in progress. If you don't explain clearly, the clerk may assume you are talking about a crime that is over and the priority of the call will be lowered.
Don't buy merchandise or phone gift cards with serial numbers visible to the public. Thieves can copy them down and call to "check the balance" thus learning if its been activated, then use them.
Never let anyone see you enter your PIN number at an ATM, even if your card doesn't come back and they seem to be a passerby trying to be helpful. They may have inserted a device to keep your card and need your PIN to gain access to your account.
Some scams call for "transferring" funds to your banking account and then asking you to send an amount back that is more than your agreement. It can take several days before the bank can confirm real money is in your account, even after it appears to be there. The scam is that there is no real money, other than whatever you've sent to the scam artist.
Be aware of one of the oldest scams around where someone poses as the police department or bank security "investigating" an internal theft and wants to transfer money into or out of your account. (see above)
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please check out any email claiming a scam or crime with the research sites available online, such as www.snopes.com. Forwarding false claims just plays into the hands of the people who start them purely for the power of seeing them spread and create fear. Thank you.
