someone’s knocking
The news if filled with stories of tragic shootings of people simply answering the door. If someone unexpected comes to your door, do not open the door. Instead, request identification and the reason for the visit. Also, don’t stand directly in front of the door. This will protect you from someone shooting through the door or kicking it in. For added security, take your cellphone with you when you respond to someone at the door. If you need to call 911, you won’t have to search for the phone. Finally, if your door has large windows or glass panels, consider installing an intercom system so that you can communicate with people who are standing outside your door without placing yourself at risk of assault or home invasion.
lawn service
A well-kept lawn and landscape can serve as a deterrent. A burglar who sees a house that has a well-kept yard is likely to move on to the next house, because everyone knows a well-kept home is more likely to have layered security in place than a run-down home.
panic button
If you have a key fob for your car, keep it beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get into your house, just press the panic button for the car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. It’s a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the intruder won’t stick around… after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won’t want that.
check out
Yard and garage sales are a great way to make money from unwanted items, but beware. The stranger checking out your sale could also be checking out the vulnerable areas of your home. If you must keep the garage door open, make sure to store equipment and tools out of sight. Also, keep curtains closed so people won’t see valuable electronics and other equipment inside your home.
family planning
The secret to keeping your family reasonably safe at home is to have a family security plan. To develop a family security plan you must give careful thought to your family members’ routines and think of ways to make them safer from intruders. The best way to accomplish this is to hold a family meeting to discuss this plan and play “what if” using different scenarios. For example, “What if someone kicks in the door and attempts to rob us?” “What if someone approaches us while we’re outside our home and tries to assault us?” “What if we come home and discover a burglar in the house?” But don’t stop with the “what ifs.” Also ask “What would we do and how would we react? Where would we go and whom would we notify in case of emergency?” Most people have no such family plan and have not met as a family to discuss “what if” situations. Consequently, when or if a criminal assault does occur, the family is not prepared and will have to rely on instinct. Sometimes, though, those instinctive responses are wrong or and reactions are inappropriate.
big difference
The difference between being assertive and aggressive is that being assertive is getting an intruder off your property before the person breaks into your home. It’s not only keeping the intruder out of your home, but it’s also getting that person off your property before the person can do any damage. Being aggressive is the mental and emotional equivalent of chasing the intruder off your property and down the street. While you might feel this is necessary in order to protect your property, you’ve crossed the line from assertive into aggressive. A lot of people — who thought that they were “protecting” themselves — cross the line from being assertive into being aggressive, and they unwittingly provoke a violent response.
fear factor
Fear is one of the major issues that hinders personal safety. Believe it or not, this is more a problem of not understanding the nature of fear (and its purpose and benefits) than it is a problem with fear itself. Fear is your friend, not your enemy. The difference between fear and panic is knowing what to do. If you have a reliable, effective solution then fear is an asset. You know what to do and fear just makes you do it faster. On the other hand, if you don’t know what to do — or don’t trust what you know — then you will freeze in terror, because you have no clear goal or way to get there. Fear helps, panic hinders. Fear is your friend; panic is your foe.
don’t be a victim
There is no reason to live in fear of crime and violence. There is, however, reason to take precautions. And in doing so, you will deter most criminals from choosing you as their victim. The reason is simple: There are thousands of people around who are easier, safer targets. The harder you make it for the criminal to victimize you, the more likely the criminal is to go elsewhere. You won’t have stopped the criminal from being a criminal, but you will have stopped the criminal from choosing you as a victim.
scam scum
Beware of scam artists. These criminals prey on innocent victims, frequently the elderly, with a variety of tactics. They may pose as salespeople, repairmen, bank examiners, government officials, charity workers, even clergy or police officers. They’re often difficult to detect by looks alone, but they can be spotted by their words or expressions. Watch out for people who come to you door with offers, arrangements, and deals that involve the following: “Cash Only” (Why is cash necessary? Why not a check?); “Last Chance” (If it’s worth it, why is this the last chance?); “Secret Plans” (Why are you being asked to keep it a secret?); “Get Rich Quick” (Any scheme of this type should be thoroughly investigated); “Something for Nothing” (Any time you are offered something for nothing, you usually end up with nothing); “Contests and Sweepstakes” (Beware if you are required to pay money to enter or to receive your “prize”); “Too Good to Be True” (Such a scheme is likely neither “good” nor “true”).
