Avoid Being A Crime Victim-7 Personal Awareness Safety Tips!

Posted on February 6, 2010
Filed Under Personal Safety, Personal Security, Protection Devices, Security and Safety Tips, Self-Defense Tips, Videos

Video Courtesy of Bakersfield PD

We all seem to live such a fast-paced life. We are constantly on the run - from work to the gym, taking the kids to school functions, sporting events, going to after work functions, and the list goes on and on. Being so busy and distracted we can sometimes forget "little" things that are simple, common-sense safety awareness guidelines. We know them, we know what we should be doing, but because we’re preoccupied we forget. It’s that one time you forget that could cause you to end up being a victim of a criminal assault or attack.

Here are seven (7) safety tips to consider when you are out by yourself or even if you are with someone. With the number of personal robberies and assaults happening in communities across the USA, we need to be armed with the knowledge and ability to protect ourselves wherever we are!

7 Personal Awareness Safety Tips To Remember Wherever You Are!

1. Be fully aware of your surroundings and totally alert as you walk to your car. Avoid being complacent and not paying attention when walking alone. This means avoid talking on your cell phone, or listening to your iPod/MP3 player when going to your car in a parking lot, covered parking garage, or walking alone at night. The distracted or preoccupied person is exactly who an attacker is looking for as his next victim.

2. Have your keys in your hand and ready as you walk to the car. Be prepared to use your keys as a weapon if you are assaulted or attacked. A great secondary weapon would be to carry some type of legal personal protection like pepper spray, mace, stun gun or TASER. Know how to use your keys as a weapon and/or personal protection for self-defense.

3. Remotely unlock only the driver door when near your car. If you have a newer car, you are able to remotely unlock the doors from a certain distance away. Wait until you are near the car before you unlock the driver side door. If you press the remote button more than once it unlocks all doors. You don’t want a criminal who may be following or watching you attempt to get into your car. When unlocking your door, always be observant to who is around. Once inside your car, immediately lock the doors.

4. Before getting into your car (especially at night) make sure no one is hiding inside. Carry a loud personal alarm with a flashlight built in so you can easily check inside the car at night. Many people are not in the habit of locking their car doors. They should develop this safety habit . Don’t make it too easy for the criminal to find an unlocked car, hide inside, and wait to attack his unsuspecting victim. Always lock your car doors.

5. Don’t leave valuables unattended. Criminals love an opportunity and if they see a package or purse unattended they may decide to rip it off. When unloading shopping packages, groceries or strapping your baby inside the car, put your purse in the front seat area first. Always be aware and monitor who is nearby. This can help you avoid being attacked.

6. Be ready to run for your life if confronted by an attacker. If you’re going to be shopping for hours, be sure to wear comfortable shoes…and that’s not high heels. If you are attacked going to your car, you may not be able to get away quickly if you’re wearing 3” high heels. Keep in mind that if attacked your main goal is to disable the attacker enough to quickly get away to safety. And that means running like crazy. Nix the heels for some comfortable shoes. Think safety first.

7. Avoid parking near large vehicles, lots of high shrubbery to hide in, or up close to a building – especially when by yourself. If you are walking to your car alone after dark in an unlit area covered with shrubs, you may become a target for an attacker looking for an easy victim. If you can’t find a parking spot and end up parking in a "bad" location, have a trusted friend or ask the mall security to walk you to your car (if you are at the shopping mall).

These seem like such simple common sense tips, but it’s amazing how people forget - then end up being a victim of a robbery or criminal attack. Develop your own personal safety plan so these tips are engrained and automatically become a habit.

Stay Aware… Stay Alert… Stay Alive!

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