By Lauren Felechner

Daily Titan Staff Writer

Although the holiday season is meant for joy and cheer, it is also a time when citizens become more vulnerable to crimes such as robberies and burglaries, according to a press release sent out from Sgt. Mike Macdonald.

Lt. Don Landers, who serves as a campus police officer at Cal State Fullerton, sees crimes committed during the holiday season as “crimes of opportunity.” Doing such things as leaving valuables visible in your car can be asking for trouble, said Landers, who often tells his own children to never leave anything in their car that they cannot live without.

“There are people out there that will do premeditated things,” Landers said.

Among putting valuables and belongings in car trunks, Landers advised to be cautious of the time and places students may find themselves. Minimize driving routes after 10 p.m. because one out of 10 cars on the road after 10 p.m. are statistically drunk drivers. He also added to always be in a group because people are less likely to become a victim of crime when surrounded by others. Drinking is another activity Landers cautions about.

“Be aware that alcohol and crime are frequent partners,” Landers said.

One precaution Landers takes is making photo copies of his credit cards and forms of identification. In case his wallet is stolen, he knows exactly what was inside so he can have it canceled or replaced.

According to the press release, holding a purse close to the body while out, going to the ATM during daylight hours and using credit cards or checks rather than cash are other effective ways to deter crime. Park in well-lit areas, keeping car doors and windows locked at all times. When leaving the house at night, leaving the lights and either the television or radio on with locked doors are also effective crime deterrents.

Chapman University business major, Julianne Beason, 24, believes people can never be too careful.

“I carry a can of mace in my purse. There are so many weirdos out there, and then I have night classes as well so I get nervous walking to my car alone sometimes,” Beason said.

Hande Turfanda, 22, a fashion student from Los Angeles, makes use of the security guards on campus who can walk students through the various parking structures.

“I should probably invest in mace or something semi-protective instead of harassing the security to walk me out when I have night classes,” Turfanda said.

There are about 150 of the blue emergency poles around CSUF, Landers said, so if a student or faculty member becomes a victim on campus and doesn’t have a cell phone, they still have options. However, if you do have a cell phone and are victimized, call 911 immediately, advised Landers, because the campus police are one of the primary answering points.

“With the technology we have at the center, we are able to pinpoint the caller’s location on campus within three meters,” Landers explained. “The most important thing is immediacy.”

Remaining calm and relaxed while calling 911 is another important factor in these types of situations, as well as being able to give any sort of description of the offender. If the phone has a camera, taking a picture of the crime is also a very useful way to help collect accurate information for the police.

“Even the littlest details could make a difference,” Landers said.