Preventing yourself becoming a victim of other crimes

〈Bag snatching〉

• ●Be careful with how you hold bags and other valuable items. For example, don’t hold them on the side on which cars and motorcycles are traveling. Instead, hold them on the building side, hold them close to your chest, or use the shoulder straps so they are difficult to pull off you.
• ●Make large payments via credit card or bank transfer. If you have no alternative but to carry a large quantity of cash with you, pay attention to the way you hold it. For example, you could endeavor to keep it next to your skin.
• ●When placing a handbag in the front basket of a bicycle, tie it to the basket with string, elastic, etc.

〈Pickpocketing〉

• ●When you are in a crowded place such as the basement floor of a department store or train station, take special care when taking out your wallet and putting it back and with wear you put valuables.
• ●Keep bags close to your chest, use the shoulder straps, etc,
• ●Don’t be careless when putting away your wallet, smartphone, etc. For example, don’ put them in the back pocket of pants.
• ●Rucksacks are especially common targets, so be careful when carrying one.

〈Car theft〉

• ●Don’t leave the ignition key, your driver’s license, valuables, etc. inside the car.
• ●Use anti-theft equipment such as a steering lock.
• ●Always lock the doors, even when only leaving the car parked for a short period of time.
• ●Don’t park on the road. Parking at a convenience store or a park is also strictly prohibited.

〈Motorcycle theft〉

• ●Don’t leave motorcycles on the road.
• ●Motorcycles can be stolen even if they have a steering lock, so also use wire lock etc.
• ●Join the Good Rider anti-theft registration scheme. You can register your motorcycle at a nearby bike shop displaying a sticker on the window. The registration fee is 1,100 yen. You can register both new and used bikes. And you can register at any time, not just at the time you purchase the bike.

〈Bicycle theft〉

• - Complete anti-theft registration for bicycles and use two locks
• ●Attach a supplementary lock such as a wire lock.
• ●Do not leave your bicycle on the road, under the eaves of buildings, in front of stations, etc.
• ●Be sure to complete anti-theft registration for your bicycle.

Bicycle anti-theft registration
　Anti-theft registration is required by law, and it is performed at stores where bicycles are sold, such as bicycle shops, department stores, supermarkets, and home centers.
　Registering your bicycle is effective for preventing it being stolen. And because data such as your address, name, the registration number, manufacturer, etc. will be entered into the police database, if your bicycle does happen to be stolen or lost, it is likely to be swiftly found and returned to you.

〈Fictitious payment demands / bank transfer fraud〉

　Some dating sites, adult sites, etc. will make fictitious demands for usage fees, while criminals will use the name of a relative, lawyer, etc. to pretend that a family member has been involved in, say, a traffic accident, and try to extort cash from you. Postcards, sealed letters, emails, and the telephone are among the methods used to makes such demands. If you are subject to a fictitious payment claim, do not call or email the sender to say something like, “I have no recollection of this.” If you do that, you’re just giving them new information, so you need to be careful. In the case of bank transfer fraud, you need to stick to rules like this: Do not transfer money if you cannot confirm the facts, do not transfer money immediately, and do not transfer money by yourself.
　There are also cases where students are offered to open a bank account, acquire a smartphone, or transfer their account or number upon graduation in order to earn a little money. And the account or number is sold and used in a bank transfer fraud and you may be arrested for participating in a fraud without knowing.If you’re ever unsure about what to do, don’t worry about it on your own. Be sure to consult an organization such as the Ishikawa Prefectural Policy Safety Consultation Desk (Tel 076-225-9110, Tel #9110).

〈Stalking〉

　Under the Anti-Stalking Act, a “stalker” is defined as someone who follows someone around, lies in wait for them, makes silent phone calls to them, sends multiple emails without receiving a response, demands that the person meet with them or date them, etc. Repeated stalking results in the perpetrator being issued a warning or restraining order by the police or the Public Safety Commission. And if they still don’t stop, they can be imprisoned for up to a year and fined as much as one million yen.And if their actions are particularly egregious, these procedures can be omitted and the police can carry out an investigation.
　To avoid being stalked, you need to take care to do the following:

• ●If you sense that you are being followed, pay attention to your surroundings, and hop in a taxi etc.
• ●If you receive a silent call, hang up immediately without saying anything.
• ●Shred documents containing personal information (e.g. utilities bills or credit card bills) before throwing them out.

　And behavior that you may think is normal could constitute stalking. So reflect for a moment on any actions you have taken that could be perceived as stalking.
　If you’re concerned about anything, don’t worry about it on your own. Talk to people around you, and consult the police before things get out of hand.
[Police Safety Consultation Desk, Ishikawa Prefectural Police Headquarters]
(Available 24 hours a day, calls at night and on weekends and holidays will be answered by the duty officer)
Tel ＃9110 (same nationwide, accessible from mobile phones)
Tel 076-225 -9110

〈Dating violence〉

　Dating violence is violence perpetuated by a person, such as a boyfriend, that you are in a close romantic relationship with.
　It takes various forms such as restricting the other persons social relationships or activities, shouting at them and inflicting physical violence, and forcing them to have sex.It is an infringement of their human rights, and if you find yourself a victim of it, please pluck up the courage to take steps to stop it, such as talking to an adult you can trust, an advisor teaching staff member, the Universal Consultation Office, the Health Service Center, or the Student Consultation Office.

〈Groping and other sex crimes〉

• ●Don’t be easily lured into going somewhere.
• ●Avoid walking alone on dark streets at night.
• ●If you are physically touched, clear admonish the perpetrator.
• ●Only open the door to visitors to your home after you’ve confirmed who they are.
• ●Carry a rape alarm with you (you can buy one for about 1,000 yen).

　If you fall victim to groping or other sex crime, please contact and consult any of the following. Don’t feel embarrassed, as seeking advice could help you prevent a recurrence.
　And of course, you can also explain what’s happened to an on-campus advisor you’re familiar with instead. The Health Service Center is also available for consultations.

[Prefectural Women’s Center / Women’s Universal Consultations]
Tel 076-231-7331
[Kanazawa Mental Helpline] Tel 076-222-7556
[Prefectural Police Ladies Emergency Line (sex crime consultations)]
Tel 076-225-0281
[Purple Support Ishikawa
(Ishikawa Support Center for Victims of Sexual Violence)]
Tel 076-223-8955