![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.utk.edu\/tntoday\/images\/blue_phone_01_sm.jpg\" "\\"UT")
We’re all busy during the holiday season, and this can sometimes lead to being a bit careless. There are many ways to make sure you have a safe and happy holiday season.<\/p>\nWe’re all busy during the holiday season, and this can sometimes lead to being a bit careless. There are many ways to make sure you have a safe and happy holiday season.<\/p>\n
The UT Police Department urges all faculty and staff to take advantage of the following tips.<\/p>\n
1. Be sure doors and windows of your vehicle, office, home, apartment and\/or residence halls are locked when you leave even for just a few minutes. Many opportunistic criminals simply look for unlocked doors and windows.<\/p>\n
2. Don\u2019t display presents and other valuable items where they can be seen from a window or doorway. Conceal valuables in a trunk or closet area.<\/p>\n
3. Be cautious of strangers asking for charitable donations during the holidays. Ask for identification and how the funds will be used. Also, you can ask for a receipt.<\/p>\n
4. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Use credit\/debit cards or checks whenever possible. Consider obtaining traveler\u2019s checks which, unlike cash, can be replaced if lost or stolen.<\/p>\n
5. Park vehicles in a well-lit and secured location.<\/p>\n
6. Visit ATM\u2019s only at well-lit and populated locations; visit during daylight hours if possible.<\/p>\n
7. Always be aware of your surroundings when you’re out and about.<\/p>\n
8. If you see someone or something that looks suspicious contact the local police department.<\/p>\n
9. Keep children close by at all times and do not let them wander around unsupervised.<\/p>\n
10. Have your keys ready when you approach your vehicle. Before entering, check that no one is hiding in the back seat.<\/p>\n
11. If waiting for a ride from a friend or public transportation, do so in a well-lit area.<\/p>\n
12. Always report a theft to the police.<\/p>\n
13. Storing loose change in the console of your vehicle is an open invitation for someone to break your windows.<\/p>\n
14. Be extra careful with purses and wallets. They may become targets for crime in crowded shopping areas, at bus stops and on public transportation.<\/p>\n
15. Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid a mishap.<\/p>\n
16. While shopping online, order only through secure and trusted Web sites.<\/p>\n
17. Guard your online passwords and do not share them with family members or friends.<\/p>\n
18. Have your vehicle thoroughly checked, including fluid levels and tires, before traveling out of town.<\/p>\n
19. If you do travel for the holidays, consider utilizing light timers in your home.<\/p>\n
20. Always be sure to have alternative transportation lined up for yourself and your friends after holiday parties.<\/p>\n
Remember to be a good friend and neighbor this holiday season: Be a VOLunteer. Share these tips with others in your family and neighborhood.<\/p>\n
For additional information, please contact the UT Police Department at 865.974.3114.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We’re all busy during the holiday season, and this can sometimes lead to being a bit careless. There are many ways to make sure you have a safe and happy holiday season. The UT Police Department urges all faculty and staff to take advantage of the following tips. 1. Be sure doors and windows of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":332,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85465","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/332"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85465"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85465\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}