Crime Prevention and Public Safety
Crime Prevention
Crime Alerts
Public Safety
Campus Access and Patrolling
Public Safety Escorts
Public Safety Offices
Crime Prevention
Morningside Crime Prevention
101 Low Library
Telephone: (212) 854-8513
Medical Center Crime Prevention
109 Black Building
Telephone: (212) 305-8100
Crime prevention is a high priority in the Public Safety Department. Living in a large city requires students and employees to practice sound crime prevention techniques when walking at night, riding the subway, safeguarding property, or the like. A Public Safety Investigator follows up on all reports of criminal activity by contacting the complainant to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted. Where appropriate, police referrals are made by this manager. Crime prevention lectures concerning personal property and safety are presented to various groups and campus organizations. During orientation week, members of the Public Safety Department begin this educational process by presenting crime prevention information to incoming students. Throughout the year, the Public Safety Operations Desk offers a variety of literature on specific ways to safeguard one’s property and person. Safety and security information and training are continuously provided to students, staff, and faculty through bulletins, crime alerts, and a free newsletter published by the Public Safety Department.
Useful tips on crime prevention are available from Columbia’s Crime Prevention Unit via informal lectures that can be scheduled for any size group and through information packets on personal and residential safety. The Crime Prevention Unit also offers support in the event that it must present a criminal case to the police department or the courts.
Preventing Theft: Operation ID
Columbia is part of a nationwide program to deter theft by
permanently identifying valuables. Register for participation in the
program through Public Safety and borrow an engraver to mark all of
your valuable property with your assigned number. Keep a good
photograph of anything you cannot engrave. You should also keep an
up-to-date property inventory that includes detailed descriptions of
the property and model and serial numbers.
Precautions in Libraries and Public Areas
Never leave your belongings unattended. Make sure you keep your bag or purse where you can see it, not on the floor by your feet or on the back of your chair. Do not keep valuable items in your coat pocket. Report any suspicious persons to Public Safety immediately.
Protecting Your Vehicle
The best way to prevent vehicle theft is to make it difficult to steal your car or bicycle. Park your car in well-lit and busy areas. If you park in a commercial lot or garage, leave only the ignition key with the attendant. Always lock your car, even when you leave it briefly. Do not leave luggage, packages, or other valuables inside that might tempt a thief. Do not leave vehicle registration inside the car. Anti-theft devices delay the car thief and buy time.
Always lock your bicycle. A key-operated, steel U-shaped lock is recommended. Be sure to use your lock to secure at least your back wheel and frame to a bicycle rack or similar immobile object. On the Morningside campus, use only authorized bicycle racks. Never lock your bicycle by the front or back wheel alone. Also, lock your bicycle in a well-lit area where pedestrian traffic will discourage theft. Anti-theft devices are available at both the Morningside and Medical Center campus security offices at discounted prices. Bike registration, V.I.N. Glass Etching, and Combat Auto Theft NYPD Crime Prevention Programs are also available. For information, call the Crime Prevention Unit.
Physical Security for Computers
Help prevent computer theft by getting your computer secured. Universal notebook security cables and computer recovery software are available at discounted prices by calling the Crime Prevention Office at (212) 854-8513.
Confidence Tricks
If you are approached by a person or a group of people who ask you to put up money for a bizarre reason, usually promising you a large financial reward, do not give them any money. Some of the more common stories involve a winning lottery ticket or cash that has been found. You may even be called by someone purporting to be a bank examiner or other official asking for your help in catching a dishonest employee.
If you are in doubt about a situation of this nature, call the Crime Prevention Unit. Should an incident occur, inform Public Safety or the NYPD.
Crime Alerts
The Public Safety Department will issue a crime alert for any serious incident when the safety of the community is threatened and there are enough details known about the crime to provide useful information to the community. Alerts are posted in the lobbies of academic buildings, University residence halls, and University Apartment Housing locations.
Public Safety
On the Street
Try not to walk alone after dark—take the shuttle bus or use the Columbia Escort Service. If you are by yourself, walk quickly and always be aware of others around you. Stick to well-lit areas and avoid quiet side streets or alleys.
New York City maintains beautiful parks. Generally, they are safe during daylight hours, although you should always remain aware of your surroundings. Riverside Park is often visited by Columbia students. When entering remote or densely forested areas in parks, be alert and avoid potentially dangerous situations.
Do not carry more cash than you need. If you must carry a purse, keep it close to your body and do not resist if it is snatched. If your wallet is stolen, cancel your credit cards and your checking account at once and report the incident to the police. If someone is following you on foot, remain alert: look behind you, cross the street, ask for help. If you are being followed by car, turn around and walk in the opposite direction. Try to get the license plate number and call the police if the problem persists. If a driver stops to ask directions, do not approach his or her car. Do not worry about appearing rude. When using automatic bank teller machines (ATMs), always be aware of the people around you. Be especially careful if the cash machines are located directly on the street. Try to use machines during the daylight hours. If you are suspicious of any person near the machine, do not use it. Try to have a friend accompany you to ATMs.
Public Transportation
If you are traveling by subway, have your token, Metrocard, or money ready before you go into the station. Try to stay near people at all times—pick a car that is occupied by other passengers.
If you are suspicious of anyone, get off the train at the next stop and notify the conductor or a nearby police officer. During non-rush hours, ride in the center of the train near the conductor. Plan your route before you leave. If you’re coming from downtown, remember to change from the express to the local at 96th Street; only the #1 train stops at the 116th Street station. If you do wind up overshooting your stop, ride the train back or take a taxi. Do not walk through Morningside Park. It is safer to travel by bus than by subway late at night. Yellow taxis are the safest— though most expensive—way to travel at night. The Public Safety Department recommends against the use of “gypsy” taxis, but if you choose to use one, make sure you agree on a price with the driver before you begin the trip. When you are dropped off at your destination, have the driver wait for you to enter your building.
Campus Access and Patrolling
At the Morningside campus, gate security officers are posted at West 116th Street and Broadway, West 116th Street and Amsterdam, and West 119th Street and Amsterdam. The Public Safety Department also maintains a uniformed patrol presence in the area adjoining the campus. The Public Safety Department provides 24-hour access control to the undergraduate residence halls through a combination of proprietary and contract security officers and specially trained student attendants. Access control is supplemented by an online computerized card access system linked to student identification cards. At selected academic buildings, a card access and alarm monitoring system, with video support recorded 24 hours a day and monitored regularly, has been installed at the security operations desk.
Motorized and foot patrols, coordinated with neighborhood security organizations as well as the security departments of Barnard College, Teachers College, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and other affiliated institutions, patrol all campuses and their environs. All Columbia University buildings on the Medical Center campus are also patrolled by security officers. Valid Columbia University or Columbia University Medical Center identification badges are required for entry into the Physicians and Surgeons Building, Black Building, Georgian Residence, Hammer Health Sciences Center, Bard Hall, Bard-Haven Towers, 80 Haven Avenue, and 154 Haven Avenue.
The Office of Institutional Real Estate manages over 6,000 University-owned residential units, most of which are located in the area from West 109th to West 125th Street between Morningside and Riverside Parks in the area known as Morningside Heights. Some units are located on Haven Avenue between West 169th and West 173rd Streets and are used primarily to house students enrolled at the Medical Center campus. These buildings are managed and operated by University employees. Superintendents reside either in, or in close proximity to, the buildings. The area from West 168th Street to West 174th Street along Fort Washington and Haven Avenues is patrolled by Columbia Public Safety as well.
Public Safety Escorts
Morningside Safety Escorts
Telephone: (212) 854-SAFE (7233)
During the school year, Columbia University Escort Service will send two specially trained students to accompany students to their door any time from 8 pm to 3 am, seven nights a week. Escorts carry two-way Columbia Public Safety radios. This service is available from West 108th Street to West 110th Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Riverside Drive, and from West 111th Street to West 122nd Street between Morningside Drive and Riverside Drive.
When using this service, please allow escorts 5 to 15 minutes to arrive and ask them to show a Columbia Card. If you need an escort before 8 pm or after 3 am, call Public Safety at (212) 854-2798.
Medical Center
Telephone: (212) 305-8100
Columbia Public Safety officers will escort students door to door to or from any of the University buildings on the Medical Center campus or at private residences on Haven Avenue, Fort Washington Avenue, or Broadway from West 165th to West 178th Streets.
A shuttle service is also available during stated hours within the
Morningside Heights area and between the Morningside and Medical Center
campuses.
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Public Safety Offices
Morningside Campus Security
111 Low Library, Mail Code 4301
Telephone:
(212) 854-2796
Medical Center Security
109 Black Building
Telephone: (212) 305-8100
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964-1707
Telephone: (845) 359-2900
Nevis Physics Laboratories
136 South Broadway
Irvington, NY 10533-2500
Telephone: (914) 591-8100
Barnard College Security
104 Barnard Hall
Telephone: (212) 854-3362