Neighborhood Safety
- Get to know your neighbors
- Report suspicious activity in your neighborhood
- Complete routine maintenance around your residence (check locks, windows, etc..)
- Lighting is the most effective crime deterrent, keep your residence well lit to avoid potential issues
- Keep your property free of debris, if it looks like you do not care about your property others will not care either
Exercising Outdoors
- Be aware of your surroundings
- If using ear buds/headphones, keep the volume at a minimum to limit distractions
- Vary your routine to avoid potential ambush situations
- Exercise in pairs if possible
- If exercising at night, wear reflective material
- Let someone know you are exercising at night and let them know when you are home safe
- Carry a phone, identification, and a small amount of cash in case of need
Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety
- Be aware of your surroundings
- Obey traffic controls
- Avoid distracting behaviors (taking on phone, using ipod/mp3 players, texting, etc)
- If traveling at night, use well lit high traffic areas
Social Network Safety
- Do not accept friend requests from people you don’t know
- Avoid posting personal information (location, who you’re with, etc)
- Make sure privacy settings are up to date (privacy settings change on a regular basis even without your knowledge)
Homeless/Vagrants
- Do Not give money to panhandlers as this encourages future activity
- Avoid confrontations with homeless persons; be prepared to deescalate in situations when tempers rise
- If confronted, call the police as soon as possible with a detailed description
- Know the local shelters to refer homeless persons to get necessities:
Local Shelters
Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries – 418 North Broadway Knoxville, TN 37917 Phone: (865) 673-6540
Salvation Army – 409 N. Broadway Knoxville, TN 37917 Phone: (865) 525-9401
Volunteer Ministry Center – 410 W Jackson Ave Knoxville, TN 37902 (865) 546-5579