Safety Resources

Personal Safety Tips

During the hours of 5 p.m. to 3 a.m., utilize the Safety Cruiser program by calling (309) 677-2800.

Use the Student Patrol or Bradley Police Department escort programs by calling 309-677-2000.

Travel on well-lit, busy streets and avoid walking through alleys or parking lots.

Be aware of places along your path of travel that could conceal a criminal (shrubbery, building recesses, etc.). Avoid or keep a distance from these areas whenever possible.

Do not become distracted by talking on your cell phone or listening to music through headphones on a high volume.

Walk in pairs or groups, especially during the evening and night.

Always be aware of your surroundings.

Report suspicious people immediately to the Bradley Police Department by calling (309) 677-2000 or using one of the blue light phones on or near campus.

If you think someone is following you, cross the street, head for a well-populated, well-lit area and contact the Bradley Police Department.

Report suspicious vehicle descriptions and locations to the Bradley Police Department by calling (309) 677-2000 or using one of the blue light phones on or near campus.

If approached, give up your property.

Do not leave your property, vehicles, homes or residence hall rooms unsecured.

Crime Prevention

Bradley University’s crime prevention program is designed to inform and help members of the university community to minimize their potential to be a victim of crime. All members of the campus community are encouraged to act responsibly, for their own protection and for the protection of others.

It doesn’t matter where you are going to live on campus or off, all of us have to take responsibility for our personal safety. If you decide to live on campus in a residence hall, review this Web site for Residential Living. Should your decision turn to living in Off Campus housing, you should review the following two Web sites. The first is Prairie State Legal Services, ‘Renter’s Handbook’ which provides information on Landlord – Tenant agreements, including check lists and other advice to assist you in making a good decision. The second site will provide you with information about the City of Peoria and the various city codes and ordinances.

The Bradley University Police Department invites members of the Bradley University community residing in the near off-campus neighborhoods to register their residences with the Vacant House Watch prior to leaving campus for fall break, winter break, or spring break. During the breaks, BUPD officers will check registered vacant residences daily as part of their routine patrols.

The Bradley University Police Department facilitates crime prevention and sexual assault programs for students, parents, faculty and staff, student and community organizations and the Office of Residential Living & Student Conduct resident advisers throughout the year. Information also is disseminated to students and employees through crime prevention awareness packets, pamphlets, posters, displays, videos, articles and advertisements in the student newspaper, and B-News and Hilltop Happenings emails.

The Bradley University Police Department offers Rape Aggression Defense System (R.A.D.) training classes. It is a comprehensive course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, and progresses to the basics of hands-on defense training.

The Bradley University Police Department will lend engraving equipment to students, faculty, and staff free of charge to permanently mark their valuables.

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Additional Links

Dispatch Center
MacMillan Hall
Administrative Offices
Campustown
Emergency
911
University Police
(309) 677-2000
Safety Cruiser
(309) 677-2800
TTY
(309) 677-3265

Connect with Us

General Safety

If possible, park in a well-lit area and take your keys with you. Do not leave your car running even if you are going to just “run in” for a few minutes. An unattended car, with the motor running is an open invitation for it to be stolen.

Close all windows and make sure your doors are locked.

Do not leave loose change, paper money, or other items of value in plain view. If you have packages or other items of value, put them in the trunk.

Immediately contact the police if your vehicle is broken into or items stolen

Do not put your name, plate number, address or other type identifiers on your key ring. If your key chain is lost or stolen, it can help the finder locate your vehicle.

Keep you vehicle registration on your person, not in the glove compartment.

If you think someone is inside your home, or if there are signs of entry, CALL THE POLICE. Do not go inside.

On-Campus Residence Halls and Apartments

Exterior doors are locked for your safety. Do not prop them open.
Do not leave notes on doors indicating you are gone.
Keep small articles of value in a drawer and out of sight. Engrave large articles of value such as stereos or TVs with a personal identifier. Take several pictures of small items of value. Make a record, and keep one copy at school and one copy at home.
Lock your door even if you will only be gone for a few minutes.
If your roommate is sleeping, lock the door if you are going out.
Door-to-door solicitation has to be University approved. If you have doubts about solicitor’s credentials, contact dorm staff, University Police, or the Student Activities Office.
Maintenance staff should have identification. In most cases, maintenance staff will make arrangements with you prior to doing service work.
Report all repair needs promptly.
Contact University Police if you suspect someone is acting suspicious. Get description!
Do not loan out your room key, ID, etc., as these items may be duplicated.
You need to discuss with your roommate and hall staff any overnight guest you are planning to have stay.

Off-Campus Apartments and Homes

If you decide to live off-campus, the following suggestions may help insure your safety. Should you view homes or apartments, make notes and discuss with the owner/landlord any problems or safety concerns, and make sure you both agree and sign off on when the problem will be repaired.

Before you decide to rent, the following tips can be helpful:

Check with neighbors in the area for their opinions on the location, the landlord, the safety of the building and the neighborhood.
Check the security of the building.
Find out who is expecting to take care of the grounds, hall and sidewalks.
Check for fire exists.
Beware of basement apartments. These are more likely to have burglars.
Do the windows and locks operate properly?
Check doors for dead-bolt locks that work.
Is the rental unit well lighted? Is the surrounding area well lighted? (porches, hallways, garage, yard)
Find out who has keys to the unit or have the locks changed.
If the building is a multi-unit apartment complex, does the outer security door lock?
Check for working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
Check for locks on the mailboxes. If there are none, ask your landlord and mail carrier about obtaining one.
Do the doors have peepholes?

Holidays and breaks are good times for relaxation and fun, but it’s important to take a few minutes to prepare before you leave campus.

As distractions and time away from home increase, all types of crime occur more frequently. When preparing for the holidays, consider the following tips from the Bradley University Police Department.

Before leaving for break:

Lock the doors and windows to your residence hall, house, apartment or office and take all keys with you. Please utilize our Vacation House Watch program, in which an officer will meet with you at the residence, inspect the exterior of the property (windows, entry and exit points) and add your residence to a list for each shift to monitor in your absence.
Take valuable personal property home with you for the break. If you leave anything of value in your home or office, secure it in a locked closet, cabinet, or security safe.
It is recommended that you arrange for U.S. Mail and packages to be forwarded to your permanent address (back home) for the break. You can also temporarily suspend mail services at your campus address, while out of town. Consider purchasing a P.O. Box at the post office for delivery purposes.
Prepare your vehicle for extended road trips and check for any safety issues, such as lighting, battery, fluid levels and tire pressure.
If you are leaving a car on campus, find a well-lit spot where you can park it; remove all valuables, and lock the doors. Also consider parking near an area with surveillance cameras. Bradley University’s Duryea and Main St. parking decks will remain open during the break.
Store your bike in a legal, secure location using a U-lock. Make sure you have the bike permit and serial number recorded for tracking purposes.
Talk to your roommates regarding when everyone is leaving and returning. Everyone should check and re-check the residence and personal belongings prior to leaving.
Secure large general-use items in storage areas and save all computer files. Preserve all files (thumb drives and hard copies) in a locked-fireproof security safe.
Unplug all appliances including computers. It’s OK to turn your heat down but keep it above 50 degrees to prevent freezing. Remove any foods from the refrigerator that could potentially spoil/mold.
Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave.
If you stay on campus, keep an eye out for any suspicious activity and call the Bradley University Police Department at 309-677-2000, if you notice anything of concern.

Shopping safety tips:

Bradley University Police advises that shoppers be aware of their surroundings, keep an eye on people around them and shop with others. Being alone in an isolated or unlit area with expensive items and cash is just NOT safe.

Avoid carrying and displaying large amounts of cash. Use credit/debit cards if applicable. Consider conducting the majority of your holiday shopping via online or during daylight hours.
Lock valuables, electronics and newly purchased items in the trunk of your vehicle. Activate your vehicle theft deterrent system.
Park vehicles in well-lit areas and walk with other pedestrians. Have your keys in hand before walking to your vehicle. Keep your dominant hand free while walking to and from your vehicle.
Keep cell phones stored away until you’re in your car; using cell phones can be distracting and high-value smartphones are a target for thieves. Lock your car doors immediately upon entry into the vehicle.
Pocket books should be held under your arm and wallets should be kept in a front pants pocket. Keep your purse zipped at all times.
Only carry as many bags and packages as you can safely. Don’t overwhelm yourself with heavy items; ask for assistance from store employees if needed. Utilize online shipping and store delivery where applicable.
Place “high-value” brand bags in plain bags if possible. Thieves may target people holding bags that they believe have expensive items inside.
If you feel uncomfortable, or notice any suspicious activity, return to the store immediately. Make a report to security staff or police.

Sec. 28-222. – Crossing at other than crosswalks. FINE: $25 plus court costs.

Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
Between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals are in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.
No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized by official traffic-control devices; and, when authorized to cross diagonally, pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the official traffic-control devices pertaining to such crossing movements.
No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk upon any of the through streets set forth in Schedule “J.”
In our area ONLY University Street is a schedule J road. That is important to know because when you are walking across Bradley Avenue, and many other streets across campus, it is perfectly legal to cross in the middle road even when there is no cross walk.

Illinois State Statute 625 ILCS 5/11-1001 (from Ch. 95 ½, par. 11-1001) FINE:$25 plus city and state court costs.

Sec. 11-1001. Pedestrian obedience to traffic control devices and traffic regulations.

A pedestrian shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device specifically applicable to him/her, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

Additional Traffic Safety Information

Main and University Intersection

Traffic patterns have changed giving vehicular traffic the right of way for two phases of the lights with turns allowed. Pedestrians should not cross during these phases. On the third phase of lights, the walk sign will illuminate. During this phase all vehicle traffic will stop, turns will be prohibited, and pedestrians will have the right of way to cross in any direction including diagonally. Pedestrians should cross the intersection only when there is a walk signal. A pedestrian guide with instructions on how to walk through the Main and University intersection has been developed.

Lighted crosswalks

The lighted crosswalks are on Main Street at Underhill, Institute and Glenwood and on University at Bradley Avenue. Press the crosswalk button and the walkway will illuminate. State law requires drivers to stop and yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk, however, pedestrians should remain aware and cautious of traffic at all times.

Pedestrians are encouraged to use these new safety features and avoid jaywalking. In fact, state law requires pedestrians to obey traffic control devices and not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk. Violators may be subject to a fine.

What to do if…

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other identifying information, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

How ID theft occurs: Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to gain access to your personal information. They get information by stealing records from their employer; hacking into the organization’s computers; rummaging through your trash; stealing credit and debit card numbers as your card is processed by using a special information device in a practice known as “skimming;” stealing wallets or bank and credit card statements; or completing a “change of address form” to divert your mail to another location.

“Phishing” is a kind of credit and debit card fraud. By pretending to be an e-mail from a bank or similar site, scammers “fish” for account numbers, passwords, Social Security numbers and other personal information. Phishing e-mail schemes change frequently and often have links or attachments with links. Users who click on the links are taken to look-alike sites where they are asked to enter personal data.

Once identity thieves have your personal information, they may: go on spending sprees; open new credit card accounts; take out auto loans, establish phone or wireless service in your name; file for bankruptcy under your name, or give your name to the police during an arrest.

If you are a victim of ID theft, or if you suspect that your personal information has been used to commit fraud or theft, take the following four steps immediately:

Contact the fraud departments of one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax 1-800-525-6285; Experian 1-888-397-3742; or TransUnion 1-800-680-7289) to place a fraud alert on your credit report. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.
Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts.
File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others who may require proof of the crime.
File your complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps the FTC to learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that they can better assist you.

In Illinois, it is a violation of law to use your telephone, or knowingly allow your telephone to be used, for placing indecent, threatening, or harassing calls. Nuisance and obscene phone calls are classified in the Illinois criminal code as Class B Misdemeanors (720 ILCS 135/1-2). Threatening calls are classified as a Class 3 Felony (720 ILCS 135/12-16). If you receive harassing or threatening calls:

Hang up immediately on obscene callers or strangers who ask questions about personal matters.
Do not engage the caller in conversation.
Pay attention to background noise and the caller’s voice (gender, etc.) that may assist in identifying the caller.
If the call is recorded on the answering machine, save the tape.
Keep a log or record of the call(s) that includes date, time, and comments.
Do not volunteer your name or other personal data to any caller you do not know. If you have an interest, ask the caller for their phone number and you will get back to them.
Do not tell others about your calls. Many disturbing calls are made by people you know.
If the caller keeps calling, contact your phone carrier and/or University Police.
If the call is a threat to your safety, contact University Police and your phone company.

App Safety

Review these steps to protect your data privacy and improve your smartphone security.

The strongest passwords are random strings of characters. The downside is that these complex passwords are much harder to remember. This is where a password manager app comes in handy. Password managers keep all your passwords in one encrypted and password-protected app. They also generate and remember strong passwords. It’s also best to avoid using the same password for multiple accounts. If one account is compromised in a data breach, all the accounts are compromised. With a password manager, each one of your accounts can have a different, complex and hard-to-crack password. Some will even generate passwords for you.

If you’re going to get on a public Wi-Fi network while on your phone instead of using your mobile data, use a VPN. A virtual private network can keep your data from being snooped on by other people lurking on the same public network. They can also mask your data transmissions, avoid filtering and censorship on the internet, and allow you to access a wider variety of content around the world.

Double check which permissions the app asks for. You should also ask yourself whether it makes sense for an app to ask for certain permissions. An app asking for access to data that isn’t relevant to its function is a major warning sign.

While you can’t tell at face value if an app has sinister motives, a quick Google search can supply more information. Search the name of the app and the phrase “data scandal” or “scam.” The results should tell you if the company has experienced any recent privacy or data leaks. This search should also tell you if data breaches are a common occurrence at that company and, if they have experienced any, how they have responded to them. If the company has been affected several times and done nothing to address the problem, steer clear of the app — it suggests that they aren’t taking the issue seriously. Also, it’s wise to avoid an app if it’s the only one a developer has produced or if the developer was responsible for any other shady apps.

It’s wise to limit the amount of information you share on social media, regardless of what the site asks for on your profile. The more information you share, the more data that’s available to create advertisements for you. Only fill out the absolute minimum amount of information necessary. The more information you provide, the more is at risk in the event of a data breach.

Making time to update your smartphone’s operating system is critical to keeping your data safe. Updates let you stay a step ahead of hackers and the latest exploits they’re spreading across the internet. Think of software updates like vaccinations for your smartphone. The methods that criminals use to hack into your phone and steal your data are constantly evolving, so the ways that we protect our smartphones need to evolve too. You can adjust your phone’s settings so it’ll update automatically.

Not all the apps in the App Store or the Google Play store are 100% trustworthy, but you should only download from the official stores, rather than side-load an app. Apps available on these platforms will have been vetted to ensure that they meet a standard quality of data protection and will also be required to produce a dedicated privacy policy for you, telling you just how they protect your data. Downloading an app from unofficial or insecure sites increases the risk of ransomware, malware, spyware, and trojan viruses infecting your device. In the worst case scenario, a hacker could take full control of your device.