By Alison Seagle

CSUSM Campus University Police take every precaution to keep students safe. The Preventing Rape by Intoxication through Community Education, or PRICE program, has been credited for the CSUSM campus having one of the lowest numbers of sexual assaults reported in the state.

During the first couple weeks of the school year, officers from UPD have been going door-to-door through the University Village Apartments and the QUAD offering rape prevention techniques, including how students can use the“buddy system” and peer intervention when someone appears to be in an unsafe situation.

Another safety concern is the use of crosswalks, particularly on Barham Drive, where pedestrian traffic has increased with the opening of the QUAD apartments this fall. Barham has a 45 mph speed limit that many drivers exceed. To reduce the risk of students being hit by cars, UPD officers are now issuing jaywalking tickets ranging from $100 – $200.

The most common —- and most preventable —- crime on campus is theft from cars in the parking lots, and the No. 1 item reported stolen from cars is textbooks. Officers recommend that students keep their textbooks out of sight, their car windows rolled up and doors locked.

The UPD has a video on its website demonstrating how easy it is for thieves to break into a vehicle (in just nine seconds).  The video can be seen at csusm.edu/police/video_series.html.

For more tips, please visit the UPD website at www.csusm.edu/police.