The CAC Police Department is dedicated to providing a safe and secure learning environment for the College community to the best of our ability.  Often students, faculty, staff, and guests who visit our campuses do not assume responsibility for their personal safety and the security of their personal belongings.  By taking simple safety precautions, you can keep yourself and those around you safe and secure.  Some of the most frequent calls CAC officers respond to are suspicious persons, lost, found, or stolen property.

Following these tips will decrease your chances of becoming a victim of crime:

General Safety

• Walk in pairs or groups whenever possible, particularly in the evening.
• Be aware of your surroundings. If a path or area seems unsafe, avoid it; take a different route.
• Safe Walk/Safe Ride services from the CAC Police Department are available at the Signal Peak Campus (SPC), the Maricopa Campus (MC), the San Tan Campus (STC), and the Superstition Mountain Campus (SMC). Blue Towers can be used to call CAC Police at SPC.  Blue Towers at AVC, MC, SMC, and STC can be used to call 911 and will go directly to the area law enforcement agency.  If immediate police assistance is needed at the Casa Grande Center or Corporate Center, please call 911 (Casa Grande Police Department).

Signal Peak Campus 520-709-0131 / 520-836-9655

Maricopa Campus 520-709-0374

Superstition Mountain Campus 480-291-4469

San Tan Campus 520-709-0187

**If you are in danger or see any dangerous activity, call the CAC Police Department or 911 immediately**   

Lock it or Lose It National Campaign

This excerpt is from the Lock It or Lose It National Campaign:

“The “Lock It or Lose It” program, is designed to remind and educate citizens that many property crimes can be prevented by simply locking home doors, garage doors, windows, and vehicle doors.

“Lock it or Lose it” sponsored a recent study of property crimes, including home burglaries, vehicle larcenies ,and theft, showed nearly half of the events involved unlocked doors or car drivers who left valuables in plain view without locking their doors. Many of these crimes can be prevented with some simple, common sense actions on the part of all of us.”

Here are a few crime prevention tips to help keep us from becoming the victim of a burglary or theft:

• Remember to always secure your car doors when parking your vehicle, even for just a few minutes. It takes just a matter of seconds to enter an unsecured vehicle
• Do not leave valuables, such as purses, cell phones, portable radios, packages, etc. in plain view inside your vehicle. Secure them in a glove box, center console, or even better in the trunk. Thieves will search other vehicles that are easier targets if they do not see anything of value in your car
• Park in well lighted areas at night. Light is an enemy of thieves
• Keep your garage door closed and locked at night. Many burglaries to garages occur with doors left wide open. An open garage door is an invitation to a thief to take anything in sight
• Be suspicious of anyone approaching your vehicle or roaming your neighborhood

Cellphone Security

One of the most common calls CACPD receives is lost or stolen cellphones.  Cellphones have a great deal of street value to thieves. Don’t make it easy for them to steal your phone or any personal information you have stored on it.

• Stay off your cellphone in public places. Cellphones distract you from your surroundings. If you’re in a public place and preoccupied with talking or texting, somebody can easily grab the phone and run. Try to make calls before you go into public areas. If you receive an important call while you’re out, make it quick. Better yet, call back when you’re in a more secure location.
• Password-protect your phone. Lock your phone using the security lock code or PIN feature, usually found in Settings. Make it more difficult for others to access your personal information in your stolen phone. Save your cellphone’s serial number, as well as model and make. Keep the information in a place where you can find it. Your serial number proves it’s yours. The serial number is usually found by opening the battery compartment on your phone. It will start with one of these codes: IMEI, MEID, or ESN.
• Don’t store secrets in your phone. If it’s stolen, it’s not that difficult for the thief to pull out your private information before clearing the memory and reselling the device. If the information isn’t in the phone, the thief can’t use it for identity theft.
• Activate the phone’s tracking device: Activate the Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking system on your phone and other electronic devices. This will make it possible to locate it electronically. If the device does not have a GPS tracking system, you can buy software that does the same thing. Check with your provider.

If Your Phone Is Stolen

• First, find another phone and call CACPD as soon as possible. Remember, emergency blue light phones are available in designated areas on campuses.
• Contact your cellphone service provider immediately. Suspend your wireless service. This will prevent others from using your phone and racking up unauthorized charges. The carrier’s main service number should be available on its website; you can also visit one of the company’s stores to report the theft. If you have an online cellphone account, you should be able to suspend your service online.

Safety Begins with You

• You are the best person to keep yourself safe
• Reduce locations and activities that make you a potential victim
• Increase overall awareness of surroundings
• Trust your instincts
• Prepare your outing with safety in mind
• Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to arrive at your destination

Community Safety Tips

• Carry your purse with the clasp-side inward toward your body
• Carry your wallet in a front or inside pocket, not in a back pocket
• Carry as little money or valuables as possible
• Be aware of people arguing or asking for directions as a means to distract you

When Walking

• Use well-lit areas and main streets
• Avoid alleys and shortcuts
• Plan your route in advance
• Travel in groups when possible
• Walk confidently. Avoid looking like a tourist
• If you are followed or feel you are being followed, head toward an open and/or populated area
• Avoid texting and talking on your cellphone while walking
• Don’t carry your phone in plain sight and keep it set to silent or vibrate when you are in a public area

     If Victimized

• Remain calm
• The most valuable possession you own is your life
• Stay within yourself
• Don’t escalate the situation
• Do not try to follow the assailant
• Call CACPD or 911 as soon as possible

Be ready to provide the following information:The nature of the incident, when and where the incident occurred, number of persons involved, description, including names if known, sex, race, age, approximate height (it helps to use your height as a comparison), hair color / style, complexion, distinctive characteristics (scars, tattoos, or physical defects), clothing (start with the head — hat, top, pants, shoes), direction and method of travel, vehicles involved, description of stolen property

Further Information

The CAC Police Department is available to meet with anyone needing additional information. We care about your safety and security. If your team or students want a crime prevention session, contact Beverly Robinette at 520-494-5445 to schedule.