One of the most pressing concerns for any incoming student and their parents is the issue of safety and security at both campuses of LBCC. An impromptu inquiry was made to several students and these ideas appeared more than once. Stephanie Gomez, 18, a freshman at LBCC was quick to make the point when asked what her biggest concern was at LBCC. “Safety,” she replied, “Last semester I had a class that got out after 9 p.m. and I would be a little worried when I would be leaving campus and I couldn’t see an officer around.”
While not exceedingly prevalent on either the PCC or LAC, thoughts about possible crime is a legitimate concern for anyone not familiar with LBCC. The statistics provided in the LBCC annual security report represent campuses with a low crime rate regarding violent crime and they represent moderate numbers of burglary and automotive theft.
At both campuses over the period from 2014-2016, 10 robberies, three  aggravated assaults and one case of sexual assault was reported. During the same span, 26 vehicle thefts were reported as well as 24 reported burglaries.  The Long Beach Police assigned to the college suggest: To prevent burglaries and theft, it’s important to remember to keep your belongings with you while in class or while moving about campus. It is also important to lock your vehicle and move any important or valuable items out of sight, or not in the vehicle at all.
When moving around campus, especially at night, it’s important to keep your wits about you. Don’t walk while looking at your phone as a bright screen is distracting and makes it harder to see in the dark around you.
It’s also a good idea to remove your earbuds to help you detect any potential safety issues. It may not always possible to walk directly from class to a car or ride after session, so it’s a good idea to choose well lit paths through campus and to know where the blue emergency phones are located.
In addition to the points listed above, it’s important to remember that just because you can’t see a campus police officer, doesn’t mean that they aren’t around. The safety report indicates that police are stationed at both campuses 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In fact, if it’s needed, an officer can be requested by any student or employees to escort them to their vehicle, particularly during the dark hour at (562) 938-4910 or (562) 435-6711.