ARDHI UNIVERSITY

ARDHI UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ORGANISATION (ARUSO)

MINISTRY OF SECURITY AND SAFETY

Telephone; P. O BOX 35176

+255 627 175 123 DAR ES SALAAM

+255 620 409 227 Email; aruso@aru.ac.tz

Website; www.aru.ac.tz

13th october, 2023

TO ALL ARDHI UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Kindly receive the security tips pdf that are attached to this letter. Also, the ministry would like
to ask you to read and understand them for your personal safety and the safety of all Ardhi
university community

From;
MINISTRY OF SECURITY AND SAFETY,

MINISTER SIMON JOSEPH-0627175123

D/MINISTER JANUARY SHOMARY-0620409227

Build a brighter tomorrow

 SECURITY TIPS
Hi ARU Community!
It is a pleasure to share security knowledge/information with you.
Here is Security Advice that you may need to go through for your personal security:
1. Handling of your house/ room keys;
 Do not leave spare keys in your home or at your house/room unprotected because
they can be occupied easily.
 Do not tag keys with your name or address.
 If you think that keys to your house/room have been compromised; get the locks
changed with new security locks/ padlock however padlock gives message to
criminals that the occupier is inside or outside. If it gives message that nobody
inside; criminals expect resistance from neighbors, passers- by or the occupier
while arriving; since they surround the house with confidence that the occupier is
inside where they don’t find a locked padlock hanging on the stopper.

2. Doors and Locks;

 Do not leave keys in locks.
 Check that all doors and windows are secure/ locked before going to bed.
 Close curtains or blinds when internal lights are on.
3. Grounds;
 Ensure that security lighting is working and effective.
 Do not leave ladders, garden tools or anything out and accessible to intruders; keep
dustbins in an enclosed yard or area.
4. When someone calls on you;
 Use a spy hole if available, to identify the caller.
 Positively identify the caller before opening the door.
 Do not automatically assume that a call in uniform is who he/she claims to be. Ask
for identification.
 Treaty late callers, whether known or unknown, with great suspicion.
 Do not accept home delivery services by vendors unless he or she is the one you
trust in.

5. Children;

 Keep young children within sight or earshot, or place them in care of responsible
and thrust worthy adults if you are unable to keep them under observation yourself.

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  Instruct children never to admit strangers to your/home/house/room; teach them as
soon as they are able to learn, when and how to alert police, neighbors or security
guards.
 Students and children are instructed to travel in groups and use well frequented
streets.
 Students and children should avoid gifts or approaches from strangers and report
that attempted crime immediately.
 Employ only mature and responsible baby-sitters that you trust completely.
 Warn your children, especially teenagers, not to accept gifts from strangers.
 Caution teenagers about blind dates and meeting anyone they do not know.
 Caution teenagers to ensure the authenticity of any person they invite to your
house/apartment/home/room.
 Ensure that children’s rooms are not readily accessible from outside the house; they
should sleep within the keep door.
 Do not allow young children to answer the door, especially at night.
 Do not allow young children to open your mail.
 Do not encourage young children to answer the telephone because they may give
out information that should not be given to strange callers.
6. Hiring of servants;
 Do not engage staffs until you have checked their references.
 Avoid giving staff information they do not need about your plans, movements and
about your work, visitors and so on.
 Instruct the staffs to take all the safety precautions you take yourself.
7. Emergency Telephones;
 Do not immediately identify yourself over the telephone to unknown callers; check
the identity of callers wanting to make appointments before agreeing to see them.
 Have a list of emergency numbers.
8. Anonymous calls and telephone threats;
 Let the caller talking as possible.
 Note the details of the voice, sex, age accent and so on.
 Assess the caller’s mental state if possible – insane, drunk, drug and so on.
 Note any intention the caller may reveal ie specific threat.
 Write down all details immediately, including date, time of the call and whether
made from call box or private telephone.
 Also note details of background noise, eg bar, railway station, industrial machinery,
music, animals and so on.
 On termination of the call, inform police/security and office at once if the call was
threatening.
9. If you suspect the presence of an intruder at night;
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  Switch on lights.
 Talk loudly, make noise and bolt the room door.
 Ask for help by any means of alarm.
 Do not leave the safety of your bedroom/ keep until help has arrived.
10. Postal bombs may explode on opening, so look out for:
 The post mark, especially if foreign and any name and address of the sender. Ask
yourself – do you normally get letters or parcels from there?
 Writing which may be in foreign style. Do you recognize it? Is the spelling poor?
 Check if it is balanced. If the letter or parcel is lopsided, treat as suspect.
 Check the weight if it seems excessively heavy compared to its size, treat it as
suspect.
 Check if there are many holes or pin-points which could have been made by wires.
 Observe if there are many stains or grease marks which could have been caused by
sweating or explosives.
 Do you suspect some unusual smell?
 Feeling; in the case of letters, it will indicate whether there is only folded papers
inside the envelope, or whether there is some stiffening material. If there is the feel
of cardboard or metal, treat it as suspect.
 Can you see if there are any unusual outlines if you hold it up to the light?
 Is the flap of the envelope stuck down completely? There is usually a small gap. If
it is, treat it as suspect.
11. Action to be taken if in doubt;
 Place the letter or package on a flat surface as far away as possible from the house
or your office, hall of residence/ study room, in an open space if available.
Otherwise, place it in a room close to the outer door of the building. Close the door
of the room.
 Clear the area of all people.
 Then alert police and security staff.
 Do not bend the envelope or package.
 Do not open it.
 Do not place it in water.
12. Other indicators to watch/observe when dealing with mail and deliveries;
 Pass all threatening, insulting or crack letters and envelopes, whether anonymous
or not, to security staff. Do not handle more than you have to or let anyone else
touch them. Place them in a clean, clear plastic bag if you have one available.
 Do not accept presents or parcels from unknown persons and particularly parcels
which are not ordered.
 Do not allow suppliers/delivery staff to enter your home/house/office/hall of
residence/ room and so on.
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  Discourage delivery staff from leaving of parcels on window sills or at the door.
 Check deliveries carefully before accepting them.
 Be suspicious of anyone who is not a regular delivery person that you recognize.
 Encourage regular respondents to write their names on the outside of parcels and
bulky letters.
 Give clear instructions to family/staff/students on all these points. Make sure you
report to police and bank to cancel your credit cards if you lose them.
 Make separate copies of all personal addresses and other vital personal data,
particularly if it is all held in hard copy or electronic that could be stolen.
13. Away from your home/hall of residence/room;
 Always be alert and aware of potential dangers.
 Be unpredictable: vary your timing and routes as much as possible, whether
walking, driving or on a commuter bus or any other means you use to get at your
home.
 If possible, use different doors and gates when leaving or arriving at home/office
or study room.
14. Leaving home; no matter where you live, street crimes will exist but prudent precautions
reduce your vulnerability and minimize the effect.
 Do not take with you anything not needed for your journey, particularly items of
value sentimental value.
 Do not put house/room/car keys in a case that could be stolen or a handbag that
may be snatched.
 Take only the cash you need, and avoid displaying it.
 Do not display expensive jewelry, watches, laptop computers, mobile phones, cash
money and so on to avoid attracting criminals.
 Think ahead, be alert and anticipate being attacked while walking.
 Women should hold handbags close to them with the flap facing inward.
 Avoid shortcuts through dimly light, quiet areas: keep through busy street.
 If the street is deserted, walk in the middle of the pavement, away from
shadows/bushes.
 Walk confidently, head up, looking ahead. Appear to know where you are going,
even if you don’t.
 Walk facing incoming traffic, so as cars cannot creep up behind you unseen.
 Avoid walking alone at night. A group is less vulnerable. If you are alone, make
sure you hire a cleared/trusted transport.
 Carry a personal alarm, eg whistle and keep it very handy for you should not start
looking for it while you are already attacked. Again, criminals cannot grant you
some time to look for it so that you can call for help, hence capturing them!

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  Do not accept lift from strangers. Remember abduction and kidnapping after being
drugged.
 Check in shop windows as you pass to see if you are followed.
 If you think you may be followed, cross the road, catch a glimpse of a person, for
reassurance (hopefully) or identification. If you are still suspicious, run to the
nearest lighted area: a restaurant, cinema, pub or private house if you are at remote
area from police post/station.
 Think what you would do if you were to be physically attacked. Remember that
you can only decide to whether to fight back in a given situation. In most cases,
fighting back should be your last opinion. That is, if you believe that the assailant
is really going to harm you. But never attempt to respond aggressively if your
attacker is armed with a gun, a knife, any other sharp or heavy chemical weapon
and so on. Sometimes it is very difficult to know if he or she is armed or not,
especially at night because they ambush and attack you in few seconds before
departing.
 Use your voice to calm the situation, negotiate, or if the situation allows, shout for
help or blow whistle or any kind of alarm means you have with you. The word
shoot will attract most attention and frustrate your attackers; if you shout – fire the
criminals! So shout fire or murder for it is stronger than the word help! But do not
threaten to fire them while you are at a gun point!
15. Returning home/hall of residence;
 Have your key ready in your hand.
 If you suspect an intruder, do not go in, seek for help.
 If friends have given you a lift home, ask them to wait you until you have gone
inside safely.
 Lock the door. Then signal your friends to leave if you think it is not necessary to
call police or security staff.
16. Going away for longer periods;
 Transfer valuable documents, jewelry to other safer place(s).
 Ask trusted neighbors to safeguard or to keep eye on your home/house/room. Give
them contact telephone numbers.
 Note down your credit card and the telephone numbers for reporting their loss.
 Remove from outside view such items as TV’s stereo, video, computers, and other
valuables that can attract criminals.
 Do not draw all curtains.
 Use time switch lights.
 Lock all doors and windows and any out houses if any.
17. Use of Public Transport;

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  Plan your journey to avoid deserted underground and bus stations, especially at
night.
 If taking a taxi on the street, try to book with a reputable firm for your personal
security.
 If taking a taxi on the street at night, consider whether to avoid the first one to
represent itself.
 On Public transport, avoid deserted buses. It is better to find a seat near/next/close
to the driver with your back on the window so that you can watch whoever comes
close to you.
 If you are a man, avoid frightening women passengers by sitting unnecessary close
to them in empty compartments.
18. Journey Planning;
 Avoid travelling at night in unknown or remote areas.
 If obliged to, travel in convoy.
 Know the routine and be aware of where you are all times.
 Whenever possible know where the nearest safe haven is.
 Vary your parking if you have no secure parking at least leave a doors and windows
locked.
 Drive with doors and windows closed and locked, particularly in unknown areas.
 Keep distance between your vehicle and others.
 Be alert to cars or motorcycles tailing you.
 If you think you are being followed, take evasive action, go round a block, do a U-
turn. But keep moving and head for a safe haven.
 Avoid clouds and demonstrations. Try not to get boxed in. if you are threatened:
try to keep calm and to keep vehicle moving even if only slowly; close all windows
and make sure that all doors are locked. Switch on the anti-theft siren/head
lights/hazard warning lights and use the horn to attract attention.
 If threatened, you will have to decide if positive action is necessary and what to do.
For example, it may be better to accelerate out of danger. If the attacking vehicle
drives along side, you are vulnerable to roadside fire! A sudden stop followed by a
U-turn or unexpected acceleration may help to outwit the attackers. It is essential
to know what your car will take in the way of danger, its acceleration and turning
capabilities.
19. Parking;
 When parking in day light, try to picture how the area will look at night.
 Park as close as possible to your destination. If parking off the road, reverse in.
 Before leaving the vehicle, check the vicinity for any loiterers(criminals hanging
around).
 Do not leave anything valuable, particularly of value, inside the vehicle.
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  Lock the vehicle when you leave it.
 On turning to the vehicle, look out for loiterer.
 Have your keys ready in your hand: fumbling in handbag or pockets can make you
a target.
 Check inside the vehicle for intruders before you get in. Lock the vehicle as soon
as you are inside.
20. Some guidelines to stop car hijacking (modus operandi);
 Car hijackers rely on you to provide the keys.
 You have to be vigilant while entering or leaving a car, or stationary at the
junction/lights/closing or when you are driving at a very low speed due to a sharp
corner/broken bridge/too much sludge/breakdown and so on.
 If the attacker is clearly after your car, the options are: (i) give him your keys (most
sensible), (ii) throw your keys in one direction and run the opposite way; (a bit risky
– you may get shot at). (iii) Drive off (even riskier – you will almost certainly be
shot at).
 Fitting immobilization device to a vehicle to prevent it being driven away has some
short term merit. But once this becomes known, the hijacker simply takes the driver
along to start the vehicle. Alternatively the hijacker becomes annoyed and takes out
his anger on the driver.
 If you have been driven to an isolated area where the chance for immediate rescue
has diminished, do whatever you are told! Act submissively. Avoid eye to eye
contact. Make no sudden movements, don’t speak unless spoken to; avoid getting
angry!
 There are beacons systems available but their aim is to recover the vehicle and
arrest the perpetrators, not to deter and protect the driver.
21. If you are forced to halt/stop;
 Keep the engine running and the car in a low gear.
 Check that you locked in.
 Do not leave the vehicle unless you are sure it is safe. Or forced to do so at gun
point.
 Observe what is going in.
 Be prepared to drive off around the vehicle/obstacle into the assailants of necessary,
head up onto the pavement or across central reservation, or consider reversing out
of trouble.
 Consider ramming (through you may damage your car or stall your car). Aim to hit
the rear corner of the vehicle: this will cause it to slew around. Wear the seat belt!
 Perform handbrake turns/it turns if you know how to do it.

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  Use lights/horns/hazard warning if you are under attack. But when in isolated places
or facing a gun. Use a mobile phone if you have one however radio call would be
the best.
22. If hijackers are armed and you are forced to get out of the car;
 Remain calm.
 Get out, but leave the door open.
 Put your hands up., or whatever else you are instructed to do.
 Avoid direct eye contact with attackers, but try to note their appearance, dress etc
to report later to authorities.
 Be complainant to demand, demonstrate composure. Give up car keys when told
to.
 If in group, do not talk among yourselves more than is necessary, particularly in a
language not understood by your assailants.
23. Ten important points to note in case abduction/kidnapping takes place:
 The moment of capture. This is generally one of the most critical and
dangerous parts of the abduction phase. Any sudden or unexpected moment,
noise or cry for help is likely to provoke a violent response from the terrorist
which could prove fatal to the captive. Armed robbery is very similar to
abduction/kidnapping. Armed robbers sometimes clear lives of victims who
try to resist and struggle because this can lead to capturing of the criminals
since they are not ready for that. The victims who surrender at the earliest
stage lose their valuables to save lives. So security advice does not
recommend for resistance against terrorists or armed robbers however
captive is the one who weighs and decide to resist or surrender. In a hostage
situation, tension will remain high until the terrorists/robbers are sure they
are in control. They will attempt to gain a psychological advantage by
putting the captive on the defensive.
 Resist or submit? Whether to resist or surrender to kidnappers must remain
a personal decision. You should weigh carefully the danger of resistance in
the face of what may be overwhelming odds/probability. If you decide not
to resist, assure the abductors of your intention to co-operate, particularly
during the abduction phase. Remember that resistance is extremely risky
because the terrorists are already mentally prepared to meet this
contingency and are acting under a great deal of tension during the first few
moments of the operation.
 Blindfolds, Gags and Drugs. It is important to realize that terrorists/bandits
want hostages alive.While they may use blindfolds, gag and drugs at the
time of abduction, you should not be over – alarmed or pressured into

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 resisting. Resistance is likely to result in the terrorists/robbers using more
extreme measures!

 Stay Alert. Try to occupy your mind by noting sounds, direction of travel,
passage of time, conversations of the terrorists/gangsters, and any other
information which later could lead to their capture and conviction. There
will usually be a complete lack of privacy and conventional toilet facilities
may not exist. Maintaining dignity and self respect under such conditions
will be difficult, but such standards are important for survival.
 Fear. Fear is the most important tool of terrorists/attackers. They use it to
control, intimidate and wear down the hostage, negotiators and anyone
sympathetic to the victims’ plight. Fear may be further induced by the
captors loading and unloading weapons in the presence of the hostage,
displaying excesses of temper, resorting to physical abuse and staying mock
executions. Fear of dying is very real, and it can become overwhelming,
particularly during the early stages of captivity. Although death is a
possibility, remember that, statistically, the odds favor a hostage being
released or rescued.
 Time. Experience has shown that the more time that has gone the better are
the chances of the hostage being released or rescued. For this reason,
although the passing of time in captivity is depressing, it is to the hostage’s
advantage.
 Boredom. Toward off the effects of boredom and keep up morale, the
hostage must discipline himself/herself to take daily physical exercise and
engage in creative mental activity such as reading, writing or any other
pursuit which exercises the mind. Because of the likely cramped space,
physical exercise may be reduced to running on the spot, push-ups and sit-
ups. Isometric exercises may be used to overcome cramped space or
physical restraints.
 Illness. A side effect of captivity for some hostages is illness caused by
inadequate meals or poor diet. Gastro-Intestinal upsets or constipation may
also be suffered. Though such symptoms may be unpleasant, they do not
generally threaten life and the hostage should not hesitate to complain to the
terrorists, who normally want to keep him/her alive and at least reasonably
well.
 Rapport. It is important for the hostage to establish an early rapport with
the captors. Studies have shown that the more human a victim appear to
his/her captors the more difficulty they will have in carrying out threats of
violence against him/her. The displaying of family photographs or
discussions about children and family matters has, occasionally been
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 instrumental in saving the lives of hostages. Of course, you must avoid
giving the terrorists information which they could use later for their
advantage.
 Rescue or release. More hostages who die are killed during rescue
attempts. So it is crucial for the hostage to be particularly alert, cautious and
obedient if he/she suspects that such an attempt is close at hand. The
terrorists may be extremely nervous any negotiations, especially if the
process is long and drawn out. As the central figure in any rescue attempt,
the hostage must avoid all sudden moves which would invite reaction from
the rescue force as well as from the terrorists. The natural impulse to stand
up and run must be resisted as it could easily be thought the action of one
of the terrorists by the rescue force. The hostage’s safest course is to drop
immediately to the floor and lie as flat as possible. Carrying out any request
by the rescue force and remember that the rescuers may not know you
intentionally and they are trained to treat everyone as a suspect until
positively identified.

24. Danger of bad key control.

 Unauthorized persons can gain access to the contents of documents.
 Theft of documents or articles can occur.
 Contents of documents can be photographed.
 Time bombs or explosives can be planted.
 Bugging devices can be planted in the office, telephone or intercom systems.
 Tapering with fire – fighting systems can occur.
 Arson.
 The picking of locks on storage facilities and manipulation of combination locks.
 Sabotage can be committed.
 Tapering with the contents of documents or registers.
 Information can be compromised and other many negative results.

25. Avoid giving advantage to criminals by talking too much about your home/ office/
University at the following places:
 Bars
 Public meetings.
 Taxi ranks.
 Train platform.
 Bus stop/stand.
 Shopping centers.
 Hotels and other similar places.
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26. Factors that can influence personal security, among others are:
 Habits.
 Patterns.
 Interests.
 Activities inside and outside the house.
 All forms of indecency.
 The use of drugs.
 Debt.
 Unreliability.
 Gambling.
 Contacts with persons with bad repute.

27. In case of a hostage situation; people are not taken hostage for political reasons only as
armed robbers caught in the action on the spur of the moment decide to take hostages. The
safety of the hostages will depend on their behavior and actions:
 Do not argue with them
 Do what they demand you to do
 Stay calm
 Do not do anything without asking permission from them
 As they might be nervous; do not ask many favors
 Try to win their confidence and make friends with them/ befriend to them
 Don’t even talk without permission
 Don’t try to be hero at the expense of your life.
 If they shoot; take cover
 Don’t try to escape
 Determine the following:
- Number and type of firearms
- Their nationality and language
- Their sex
- Their clothing and disguise
- Their movement
- Their motor vehicle’s possible details including plat number
- Number of hostages if you are not alone; remember you don’t need to write
down anything so that they cannot see you doing anything without permission.

Prepared: Ibrahim Hungu Nchimbi

Security Officer -ARU
Contact No: 0762933938/065864123
Build a brighter tomorrow