In 2013, the San Jose State campus and surrounding area encountered 22 motor vehicle thefts, 22 burglaries, 11 robberies, 7 aggravated assaults, 2 forcible sex offenses, and 1 murder.
Although the majority of these crimes occur under the shade of darkness late at night or early morning, it's still important to know how to be safe when walking to your dorm/car from a party or your night class.
The most obvious tip: don't walk anywhere alone. You are less likely to be the target of a crime if you are walking with a group of people.
Know your way around, but don't take shortcuts. Campuses are lit up at night, but not always that well. So while you may be able to take alleyways and little-known walkways when you go to class during the day, it's not the best idea at night. These are prime locations for a thief to be hiding. Don't make it easy for them.
Call for backup. SJSU offers services so that you always feel safe. You can use any bluelight/elevator phone to call for UPD or call them directly at 408-924-2222. If you would like a guardian with you to get where you're going, they offer an escort to walk you anywhere on campus and up to two blocks beyond. They offer this service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They also have a shuttle service that extends the escort distance beyond the two blocks to Interstate 280 to the south, Julian Street to the north, First Street to the west and Sixteenth Street to the east. This service is available from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Safety? There's an app for that. Actually, theres a ton. As an extra security measure, download your favorite safety app to make sure you get where you're going safely. Go to the app store and check out Companion, StaySafe, SafeTrek, bSafe, Circle of 6, or Watch Over Me.
Avoid being drunk or distracted when you walk home or to your car (you shouldn't be drinking and driving anyway). When you've had something to drink, you have a slower reaction time and will be less likely to pick up on subtle signs of danger. Likewise, if you're distracted, deep in thought, or on your phone, you make for an easier target than someone who has their head up and eyes scanning for threats and sketchy looking people.
*BONUS ADVICE* If you or your friends get into some sort of altercation with a stranger outside of Jack in the Box (or any other sketchy late night spot), do everything you can to get away. There is no need to square up. If you walk away alive, you've won the fight.
(Crime statistics gathered from www.ope.ed.gov.)
