Mercy St. Vincent Employee’s Purse Stolen in MOB 2 Surface Lot
Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, three men, who are suspected to have been looking for valuables in cars in the MOB 2 surface lot, confronted an employee going to her car and stole her purse. The employee was unharmed. Mercy’s Public Safety Department, which recently added police capabilities to its line of services, is investigating the incident and has enlisted the assistance of the Toledo Police Department.

The safety of employees, patients and visitors is Mercy’s top priority. Our team of Public Safety Officers continuously and frequently patrols parking areas to minimize opportunities for criminal activity. Also, if you are walking to your vehicle alone at night or are uncomfortable going to another part of the property, you are encouraged to contact Public Safety at (419) 251-4444 and an officer will be dispatched to escort you to your vehicle or destination on campus.

While the experts in Mercy’s Public Safety department are a tremendous resource in preventing and solving crime, safety is a cooperative effort. There are many strategies you can employ every day, wherever you are, to ensure the safety of yourself and others. These apply as much at the mall or at church as they do to workplace parking areas.

Recommended Safety Strategies:

• Contact Mercy’s Public Safety department at (419) 251-4444 any time you feel uncomfortable walking someplace on Mercy property.
• At night, try to stay in well-lit areas and use routes that appear more heavily traveled.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Walk with your head up and watch for suspicious people or activities.
• Walk to your vehicle in pairs or in a group.
• Have your keys in your hand so that you don’t have to search for them when you reach your vehicle.
• When you enter your vehicle, lock all the doors and turn on your headlights. This will allow you to see anyone outside in the dark.
• Lock your vehicle every time you leave it.
• Don’t leave valuables in view for a thief. This includes mounting brackets for electronic devices like GPS units, as these can tip criminals off to items that are probably elsewhere in the car.