This valuable information about personal security may help you avoid becoming a victim of crime. We believe you can reduce risk to yourself by applying these simple precautions in your daily life.

Every community attracts all types of people and the majority of them are law-abiding. However, you have no way of knowing who is and who is not. For this reason, you must be prepared to protect yourself. The most important thing to remember is that criminals often plan their crimes. They look for the right opportunity and the easiest victim. Therefore, your best defence is a personal security plan aimed at reducing the opportunity for criminals to victimize you. We encourage you to practice the following crime prevention measures to increase your personal safety and security.

Away From Home

• Avoid walking alone.
• Walk on streets where there are other people.
• Stay alert to your surroundings at all times. Observe people and activities around you. Look confident and purposeful when you walk.
• Plan and use the safest and most direct route to your destination.
• Choose busy, well-lighted streets and avoid isolated areas, alleys, vacant lots, abandoned buildings and construction sites.
• Walk near the curb and do not pass too close to shrubbery, dark doorways and places of concealment.
• Avoid shortcuts.
• Become familiar with stores and gas stations that stay open late at night, as well as Police Stations and fire department locations.
• Walk facing traffic so you can see approaching cars.
• Carry a flashlight during hours of darkness.
• Be aware that wearing earphones connected to phones and portable audio equipment while walking can distract you and make you less able to sense potential danger.
• Always take change with you for telephone calls or cab or bus fare in case you decide not to walk. Keep some extra money separate from your wallet or purse for emergencies.
• Never hitchhike and do not accept rides from strangers.
• Carry a personal alarm. Use the personal alarm to attract attention and to summon help if you feel you are in danger. Carry the personal alarm in your hand so that you use it immediately.
• If followed or threatened by someone in a car, use your personal alarm or scream loud and long. Cross the street and run in the opposite direction. This will force the driver to turn the car around to pursue you. Try to obtain the license plate number and a description of the car and its occupant(s).
• If followed or threatened by someone who is walking, use your personal alarm or scream loud and long. Cross the street and run in the opposite direction. Head for bright lights and people.
• Do not display money or credit cards.
• Unless absolutely necessary, never wear expensive jewellery or carry large amounts money.
• Keep your money and wallet in the inside pocket of your jacket or purse.
• Secure your purse or handbag under your arm so that it cannot be easily snatched.
• When arriving home by taxicab or limousine request the driver to wait until you are inside the house.
• Have your key ready so you can open the door to your house as soon as possible.
• If a door or window has been forced open or broken while you were out, do not enter your home, because a burglar may be inside. Use a neighbour's telephone to call the Police. Advise the Police you will wait at your neighbour's house until they arrive. Make sure to give them the address.

Reprinted by kind permission of IRM SOLUTIONS INC. IRM SOLUTIONS can be contacted at:
http://www.irmsolutions.biz
Tel: 1-246-436-2810 (Head Office) Barbados
Tel: 1-868-783-6497 (Trinidad) 

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 20th, 2008 at 9:47 pm and is filed under lifestyle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.