Security & Safety

MIT and the communities surrounding Cambridge are urban areas. Assaults, break-ins, and robberies are unfortunate aspects of urban life. Common sense precautions and above all, awareness can go a long way in securing the safety of your person and your home.

		On Campus
		Neighborhood Safety
		Street Safety
		Public Transit
		Home Security
		Smoke Detectors
		Insurance
		Insect Pests and Rodents

A. On Campus

MIT is an open campus in a very urban location. There are no protective boundaries which separate it from the city. Some common precautions can help you from being a target of crime.

Walking alone on the perimeter of campus after dark is not a safe practice. Avoid unlit and isolated areas and use "Safe Ride." Avoid shortcuts and stick to well-travelled areas such as Massachusetts Avenue if you must walk alone.

MIT provides Safe Ride shuttles after dark. If you are concerned about your safety and cannot walk with a friend or travel through a well-lit area or building to get where you are going, this service covers four different areas: East and West Cambridge and East and West Boston. Please contact the Parking and Transportation Office for a schedule.

MIT Police will also drop by and check on students or employees who are working alone late at night. If you are working late in your office or lab and are uncomfortable being alone, you can call MIT Police at 253-2996 and ask them to have an officer drop by and check on you sometime before you plan to leave. As long as the patrol officer in your area is not tied up with an emergency, he/she will check on you.

MIT Police operates an extensive crime prevention program. They supply free informational materials and conduct a variety of seminars concerning street safety, rape prevention, bicycle and automobile security and home security. The Crime Prevention Unit is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. A trained crime prevention officer is available to provide you with information and answer any questions you have concerning security and safety. Take time to drop by and pick up some literature, it may help prevent you from being a victim. MIT Police is located at 301 Vassar St, Bldg W89. The Crime Prevention phone number is 253-9755, and the Campus Police homepage is at http://web.mit.edu/cp/www/.

B. Neighborhood Safety

To investigate the safety of a particular neighborhood, contact the crime prevention unit of the local Police Department and ask for a crime report. MIT Campus Police are available to schedule appointments to review crime statistics for areas within Cambridge. Many local police departments have websites, so be sure to check Cambridge Police: www.ci.cambridge.ma.us/CPD/.

C. Street Safety

Walking is a major part of living in Boston. Most students walk and/or take public transit as their primary means of transportation. It cannot be stressed enough that the Boston area is an urban environment and caution should be exercised at all times. When walking, especially after dark, keep in mind the following points:

1. BE ALERT. Know where you are going and be aware of anyone who might be following you.
2. WALK CONFIDENTLY, DIRECTLY AND AT A STEADY PACE.
3. Walk in well-lit, well-travelled areas and avoid short-cuts.
4. Do not walk alone unless absolutely unavoidable.
5. Walk near the curb. Avoid bushes, alleys, dark entranceways and parks.
6. If you think you are being followed, walk quickly to areas where there are lights and people. If a car appears to be following you, turn and walk in the opposite direction or walk on the other side of the street.
7. Carry as little cash as possible. If you have a purse, hold it tightly to your body. If you have a wallet, keep it in a front pocket.
8. If you feel you are in danger, do not be afraid to scream and run. Consider carrying a whistle or other noisemaker and use it if you feel you are in trouble. MIT Police have whistles available for purchase.
9. Always have your keys ready when you get home so you can enter your building without delay.
10. Have a safety plan. Think about what you would do in a threatening situation.

The MIT Police offer a women's self-defense program called Rape Aggression Defense (RAD). This 14-hour course provides basic information on personal safety, awareness, risk reduction, and avoidance. RAD teaches practical defense techniques that require no special skills. This is employed as women learn to be more aware of their surroundings. RAD also offers the opportunity to test these learned skills on a real person during a simulated attack.

The class fee, to cover materials, is $20, payable to MIT within three (3) days of registration. Registrants who cancel less than 48 hours prior to class will not be eligible for a refund. Attendance is limited to the first 16 registrants with payment. PE credits are available for students. For more information, contact the MIT Police Crime Prevention Unit at (617)253-9755 or web.mit.edu/cp/www/.

D. Public Transit

Boston's public transit system is generally safe. The T's crowded buses and subways are often a haven for purse snatchers and pickpockets, however. Be aware of your surroundings and of other passengers, especially when travelling late at night when there are few other riders. In using public transit, you should be aware of the following points:

1. If you have a purse, hold it tightly to your body If you have a wallet, keep it in your front pocket.
2. Never keep anything of value in the outer pocket of a knapsack. Wallets and T passes are easily lifted out. Place valuables on the bottom of your knapsack, purse or bag.
3. Avoid sitting near the door. A thief can snatch a purse, briefcase or knapsack and escape out the door.
4. If it is late and few people are on the bus or train, try to sit near the driver.
5. Never get into a subway car containing only one other person. Take the adjoining car or wait for the next train.
6. Avoid using your laptop on the bus or train.
7. I-Pods are very popular and easy to steal if you are not paying attention.

E. Home Security

Breaking and entering is also a common crime in the Boston/Cambridge area. Students are often negligent in securing their apartments and their valuables and therefore, are often victimized. A few basic precautionary measures can help:

1. Put only your initials, not your first name, on your mailbox.
2. Do not hide a key outside your house or apartment. Even an inexperienced thief knows where to look.
3. Keep all doors and windows locked when you are not in and be aware that first floor apartments offer easy access.
4. Get to know your neighbors, together you can improve security in your building and/or your neighborhood.
5. Do not let anyone you do not know into your building. Check the identity of all visitors when they ring in the lobby and when they knock on the door. Insist on credentials from repairmen, deliverymen and salespeople.
6. Notify your landlord or superintendent of outside and hallway lights that do not work, locks that do not work and lost keys.
7. Do not let strangers in to use your telephone. Offer to make the call for them or refer them to a nearby public telephone.
8. Check into installing dead bolt locks or police locks on all exterior doors. Consider taking greater security precautions with your windows. Upon request, area police departments will visit your home or apartment and conduct a home security check, advising you on how to best secure your home. MIT Police also provides information on door and window locks and home security in general. If you do decide to install new locks, check with your landlord first since most leases prohibit a tenant from installing new locks without first obtaining permission.
9. Take advantage of "Operation Identification," an effort by police departments to convince people to mark their valuables in some distinctive, obvious manner. MIT Police (and area police departments) will lend you easy to use electric engraving tools which mark metal, plastic, glass and wooden objects. Engraving your valuables with your Drivers License number is suggested. After marking your valuables, make a list of the items marked and the identification number used. Window stickers which identify your home as participating in Operation I.D. are supplied by the police departments as well. Criminals do not like to handle easily identifiable items because such items greatly increase the chance of being detected and makes selling these items considerably more difficult.

F. Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smoke, not flames, is responsible for most fire-related deaths and injuries. According to a Maryland/Washington D.C. area study, 100 of 114 fatalities could have been saved with smoke detectors. Smoke detectors cost between around $20.00 and provide an inexpensive and reliable early warning system.

Local ordinances require smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in ALL rental units in the following Boston area cities and towns:

• Arlington
• Belmont
• Boston
• Brookline
• Cambridge
• Somerville
• Watertown

Check to make sure your unit has a smoke detector and that it is in working order. If your city or town requires smoke detectors and your landlord refuses to install or repair them, contact the fire department to report the violation. If you live in a unit not covered by the smoke detector law, seriously consider installing a smoke detector on your own; it could save your life.

G. Insurance

Investing in some apartment or theft and fire insurance is a good idea, depending on the value of your belongings. Try to imagine the expense if all your possesions were destroyed in a fire. Student Personal Property Insurance can be purchased from:

National Student Services, Inc.
PO. Box 2137
Stillwater, OK 74076
1-800-654-6814
www,nssinc.com

Under their Student Personal Property Plan, students can get up to $10,000 of coverage against theft or fire.

For coverage of more than $10,000 consult the Yellow Pages for a local insurance agency, and shop around for the best value.

H. Insect Pests and Rodents

Insects can be a problem in an urban environment. Cockroaches, silverfish and rodents, such as mice, are common in this area. State Sanitary Codes require that landowners provide extermination if infestation occurs. Use pesticides yourself only when necessary and follow label instructions carefully. All insect spray treatments have toxic substances and should be carefully handled. It is recommended that professional pest control companies be consulted rather than risking mishandling chemicals.

Bedbugs are becoming a problem and you should work with the landlord to resolve an infestation. If the landowner is not cooperative, contact your city's health department. Carefully follow all instructions from the landowner, the health inspector and/or exterminator to be sure not to have a reoccurance.