Crime Safety Tips for Singles, Part II

If you've been following along, you know that singles are more likely than marrieds to be victims of violent crime. Last time, Singletude listed the dos and don'ts of protecting yourself while out on the town. But your home is your castle. Here are some steps you can take to defend it:


When You're At Home

1. Always keep the doors and windows locked when you leave the house and at night. If you live in an urban area, keep them locked all the time, whether you're home or not. You may think you're safe if you're hanging out on the couch in the middle of the day, but lots of break-ins happen in the afternoon while most people are out at work. For doors, a traditional lock on the knob isn't enough. Install deadbolts and cane bolts, the more the better, and a peephole. Also be conscientious about the windows. Burglars often enter homes through open or unlocked windows. If you live in the city, make sure the bars on your windows are secure.

2. Install deadbolts on your doors (the more the better), motion-sensor lights outside, lights on timer inside, and, if you can afford it, a security system, which you must keep on at all times. Too many people with security systems are vandalized because they didn't turn them on. A large dog with a vociferous bark at the ready is a more affordable option for many. Even in the absence of these safeguards, a sign warning of a dog or alarm system can be an effective deterrent.

3. If you have a garage, install bolts and/or padlocks on both ends of the door and cane bolts on the inside. If you have an automatic door, bring the remote into the house when you leave the car. Cover the garage windows so criminals can't scope out the interior. If you have an attached garage with a door to the house, that door should be locked at all times, preferably with bolts. All tools in the garage should be in a locked box, where a criminal can't use them to break or pry open doors or windows.

4. Your house number should be clearly visible from the street so that emergency personnel can find you. Display only your number on your mailbox. Don't give ammunition to a criminal by making your gender or marital status apparent. If you're going out of town for more than a day or so, ask someone you trust to collect your mail or have the post office hold it.

5. Keep your yard free of trees and shrubbery close to the windows. There should be nothing nearby that anyone could use as a hideout or platform for entry. If you live in the city, make sure the bars on your windows are secure.

6. Don't inform people of your daily routine. No one needs to know exactly when you leave for the office or get home every day. This includes your friends, not because they might pull a Pink Panther on you but because they might casually mention something about your comings and goings to the wrong person. Never tape a note to the door to inform someone that you're out. If someone calls to survey you, sell you something, ask for donations, or inform you of a problem with one of your accounts, don't give out personal information. If you're interested, take the number of their main office, verify it with Information or the Yellow Pages, and call them back. Never tell them when you will or will not be home or that you live alone.

7. Don't leave your spare key under the doormat or anywhere near the front door. That's a cliche, not a hiding place. Resist the urge to brag to anyone about what a clever spot you found for it.

8. Store your valuables in a safe place. If you can afford it, install a vault or locked (bolted) closet with a solid door. If you can't, get a strong box. Another option is to "hide it in plain sight" and hope a burglar won't be thorough enough to check all your books to determine which one is hollow at the center. No matter what, your most precious commodities should be in a safety deposit box in the bank. It should go without saying that you shouldn't advertise your goods or their location.

9. If it's cold, don't sit in the house while your car warms up in the driveway. More audacious auto thieves have been known to waltz up to an unattended car and climb right in.

10. When you go out, leave the doors inside your house, including closet doors, open. Leave shower curtains pulled back. When you come home, you want to see at a glance that everything is where it should be and no one is in the house who shouldn't be. If you come home to an empty house at night, try to be on the phone with someone when you arrive. Again, this won't prevent someone from attacking you, but at least your friend on the other end of the line will know if something's wrong. Ask your friend to stay on the phone while you do a quick walk-through of your residence.

11. If you return home to find a door or window open, now is not the time to play detective, even if you think a roommate or family member might be inside. Call the police and let the pros handle it.

12. If a stranger comes to the door asking for help, don't open the door, even if it's on a chain. Chains can be cut or broken. If it's an emergency, offer to call 911, but never open the door. If an acquaintance who doesn't normally visit you at home shows up and you have any misgivings at all, don't open the door. If you're afraid to be rude, use an excuse that you're sick or just got out of the shower. Or simply don't answer the door.

13. Always have an emergency getaway plan. If an intruder broke into your home through the back door, how would you get out? Through the front door, a side door, a window? Once outside, where would you go? Is there a trusted neighbor you could run to? Do you keep your car out in front of the house? If you're trapped in the house, what's the best safe room? (Hint: Pick a room with an inside lock and, better yet, a bolt.)

14. If you hear suspicious noises or think you see someone outside, call the police or 911. Yes, you will feel silly if it turns out it was just the cat on her nightly prowls, but it’s much better to be silly than dead. Throw the outdoor lights on, and if you're alone, yell loudly to your imaginary roommate that there's someone outside. Intruders will be discouraged if they think you have backup.

15. Keep your bedroom door locked when you sleep and have your cell and your car keys ready next to the bed. Think about what in your room could be used as a makeshift weapon (preferably something long and heavy or sharp) and keep it just under your bed.

16. There is disagreement among authorities over what to do if a criminal breaks into your home when you're inside. Some suggest that you pretend to be asleep. But while it’s true that most thieves are deterred by the presence of a homeowner and want nothing more than to take what they came for and go, not all intruders are there to steal. If the intruder intends to harm you, you'll lose valuable getaway time while you try to convince him you're out like a light. Therefore, other experts warn that you should get out of the house as quickly and quietly as possible. Still others believe you should head for a designated safe room that locks from the inside. Singletude's advice, which is admittedly not based on experience but on common sense, is to put your emergency getaway plan into action and EXIT the house if you can do so without crossing the intruder's path. If a would-be intruder is trying to pry open a window or door, silently leave the opposite way, dialing 911 on your way out. If the intruder is already in the house but still far from your nearest exit point, leave immediately and call 911 as you dash to the neighbor's. If you aren't sure where the intruder is or don't know if you can get out safely, that's when you should lock yourself in your safe room. You can never have too many safe rooms, but if you can have only one, make it your bedroom or a room attached to your bedroom since you're more likely to be surprised by an intruder at night. Once you've locked yourself in, get away from the door and behind or under an object if possible and call the police. If the intruder tries to break down the door, shout out that you've notified 911 and the police are on the way. You can also state that you're armed, whether or not you are. The only time you should ever pretend to be asleep is if you wake up to find an intruder already in your room, rummaging through your things. Monitor the intruder's actions, and if he approaches the bed, be prepared to run.

17. If you call 911 or the police, tell them that the intruder is armed, whether or not you know it for sure. Your call will be taken more seriously, which means you will get more help and faster.

18. DO NOT confront the intruder unless you're attacked. DO NOT try to prevent him or her from leaving. If the intruder confronts you, cooperate with whatever they ask unless they advance to attack you. If they do so, run if you can, fight back if you can't.

19. If you have something at hand that you can use as a weapon, keep it close to you but do not use it except in self-defense. Unless you’re skilled with weapons, a criminal can easily use your own weapon against you, and as ludicrous as they may seem, there are lots of laws that protect intruders in these situations. If you have a firearm, learn how to use it properly and be thoroughly familiar with your state’s regulations for gun owners.

20. If you injure someone in self-defense, tell the police only that the intruder forcibly entered your home and that you were afraid for your life and wounded him or her in self-defense. Let them know that you want to cooperate with them but can't say anything more until you consult a lawyer.


Have you or another single you know ever been a victim of a crime in the home? What other crime safety tips would you recommend to help singles stay safe at home?


Other Sources
Protect Yourself Against Home Burglary
Bay Mills Community Watch
Avoiding Home Burglary
Home Safety
Home Invasion
Home Security--Defend Your Home and Possessions Against Intruders
Burglary Tips--Protect Your Home
Ways You Can Protect Your Home From Burglars
Crime Prevention Tips
Officer.com
Communicating Effectively with Police


Fun Link of the Day

Crime Safety Tips for Singles, Part I

Maybe it's because they're disproportionately young, and young people are more likely to get in trouble or not know how to get out of it. Maybe it's because they have a greater chance of living in poverty, and poverty is correlated with high crime rates. Or maybe it's because they live alone and have no one to check for them at 10pm when everyone else knows where their children are. Whatever the reason, it's a frightening fact that singles are crime victims more often than marrieds are. This holds true for both men and women, though the influence of marital status has a greater positive impact on women's safety than men's.

If you're single, you need to be vigilant because you're the only one looking out for you. Take care of yourself by following these tips:


How to Protect Yourself When You're Out

1. It's an oldie but goodie: Go out with groups as much as possible, especially at night and when in unfamiliar surroundings. If you need to leave the group for any reason, tell them where you're going. If you're going out alone, tell a roommate, family member, or friend where you'll be and when you expect to be back. If you won't be home too late, arrange to call them when you get in and ask them to call you if they don't hear from you.

2. If you're driving, park in a well-lit area as close to your destination as possible. Be aware of this even in the day. You might stay out later than you planned.

3. Keep your wallet or handbag on you at all times. Don't rummage through it in public. Take it with you to the restroom; friends tend to get distracted and won't always keep an eye on it even when they promise to. Be wary of anyone who bumps into you. It's a favorite technique of pickpockets. Keep most of your cash in the wallet, but leave a little in your pocket. That way, if the wallet is stolen, you'll have enough for an emergency phone call or ride home.

4. Never leave a drink unattended. As with a bag, beware of leaving your drink in the company of friends, especially if they're drunk and rowdy. They may have good intentions, but intentions don't deter thieves. Don't drink to excess if you're going home alone, even if you're not driving. You need your wits to be your sharpest weapon when you leave the bar or party.

5. This shouldn't even need to be said, but don't go home with a stranger, especially if you're a woman. Don't even go home with a friend of a friend you just met. Date rape happens and is, in fact, more frequent than rape by a stranger. If he likes you tonight, he'll like you tomorrow, and if he doesn't, it would've been a one-night stand anyway. If you've just met someone who wants to get your number, get his or hers instead. If you must give out your number, make it your cell. In an age in which someone can order up a detailed background check from USSearch as fast as they can order a Happy Meal, anyone can track down your address from a publicly listed land line. Keep your personal info personal and don't reveal your place of business or even your last name until you're beyond the getting-to-know-you stage.

6. When walking alone at night, carry an alarm, a can of mace, pepper spray, an umbrella, or, at the very least, your keys. Don't just tuck them away in your bag and forget about them. Grip them in your palm, on the ready.

7. Get on the phone with someone and stay on until you're safe in the car or at home. While talking on the phone won't prevent a criminal from trying to abduct you, at least you'll be able to alert your loved one on the other end of the line, and cells have the added advantage of GPS tracking to pinpoint your location. Put your police precinct or fire department on speed dial in case you can't fumble for 911 in the dark.

8. If you live in a city and don't drive, don't take the bus or train after about 11:00pm. Always take a cab--a licensed one, not a gypsy cab. When you get out, ask the cab driver to wait till you're inside.

9. If you're leaving an establishment late at night by yourself and the parking lot is deserted, ask security or an employee to walk you to your car. Parking lots are among the most common sites for rape and abduction. Don't worry about looking silly. Embarrassment is fleeting. Death is not.

10. As you approach your car, look under it. Auto thieves may hide under a car and slash the driver's ankles as he or she unlocks the door. Also direct your eyes toward surrounding cars. If a man is sitting alone in a car parked next to yours, return to the building until he leaves or ask an employee to walk you out. If all is clear, glance into the backseat as well before you enter the car. Once inside, lock the doors immediately and drive away. Don't sit in the car making a phone call, fixing your hair, drinking a coffee, or anything else. It's not unheard of for a driver to be assaulted at gunpoint while sitting in his or her own car.

11. If a stranger approaches you on the street to ask a question, especially if you're a woman approached by a man, apologize and keep moving, preferably into the nearest store if he persists. Don't feel bad; if you're in a city or town, he can go into a gas station or diner and ask there. If you're approached in a public place like a store, direct him or her to a manager and make sure you're not followed when you leave. If you're approached as you're leaving or while walking to your car, go back into the building and get an employee to help (yes, that employee is certainly getting his exercise tonight ;)). DO NOT be fooled by strangers who appear to be incapacitated by an injury, cumbersome belongings, or an auto breakdown and ask you to accompany them to the car. Kindly but firmly offer to get a manager and go back into the store. Also DO NOT be fooled by strangers who call after you that you dropped a dollar. Even if you did (and you probably didn't), it's just a dollar. They can keep it instead of you.

12. If someone appears to be following you when you can't duck into a store or other public place, turn around and ask a question or make a generic comment. Many attackers depend on the element of surprise, and few want to be IDed in a lineup. If someone advances toward you, hold up your hands and say "STOP." This is also your cue to point your mace or pepper spray and announce clearly that you have it.

13. If someone grabs you, FIGHT BACK. Attackers are much more likely to give up if you scream bloody murder and defend yourself with all the strength you can muster. Criminals are cowards. They don't want a challenge; they want easy prey. The weakest points on an assailant's body are the eyes, the kneecaps, and the genitals. The strongest, sharpest point on your body is the elbow. Scream "FIRE" rather than "HELP" since studies show that bystanders pay more attention to the former (sadly enough).

14. DO NOT let someone lead you away, even if he has a weapon. Once an abductor gets you in a vehicle, your chance of survival plummets. Throw whatever you have in his face or off to the side and run away screaming. Most muggers will run themselves rather than shoot, and those who shoot will likely miss a moving target.

15. If an assailant manages to force you into a vehicle and demands you drive at gunpoint, crash the car into the nearest stationary object. Your airbag will save your life, but your assailant will be out of luck, if not headfirst out of the car. If your abductor is driving, JUMP OUT even if the vehicle is moving and wave vigorously at oncoming cars. If you're thrown into a trunk, kick out a tail light, stick your hand through, and wave.


So now you know how to avoid a criminal encounter on the street, but how do you protect your home turf? Tune in next time to find out!

Have you or another single you know ever been the victim of a violent crime while you were out and about? Do you have any other tips to help singles stay safe while having fun?


Other Sources
What You Can Do to Avoid Crime
Ten Tips to Avoid Crime
Serious Safety Tips for Women
How to Protect Yourself From Being Attacked
Crime Prevention Tips


Fun Link of the Day

Fly Solo: Going on Vacation Alone, Part II

Continuing with yesterday's theme, Singletude presents more excuses for holing up at home just because you're single and, more importantly, some irrefutable answers. (Just try to refute them! Just try! I dare you! :P)



Excuse:
"Travelling alone isn't safe."

Answer:
Sometimes it's not. It's also not safe to walk down that dark, deserted shortcut to your apartment at night, nor is it safe to sleep with your window open in the summer to let in the cool air. It's not safe to give a stranger a dollar to make a call at your local gas station, and it's not safe to leave your keys in the car while you run up to your friend's doorstep to drop off a birthday gift.

With the exception of widely recognized high-crime neighborhoods, safety isn't about where you are. It's about the precautions you take. You can be every bit as unsafe in your own backyard as you are in a hotel in London, perhaps more so since criminals are apt to strike when they're familiar with your routine.

There are definitely opportunists who prey on travellers. But if you keep your head glued to your shoulders and remember that just because you're here to relax, you shouldn't relax your guard, it will be much harder for them to take advantage of you.


Here are some tips for safe solo travel:

1. Don't do anything you wouldn't do at home.
If you wouldn't leave a bar with a stranger back home or hike out to some hidden cave with that friendly guy you just met, don't do it on vacation. No matter how much your surroundings may resemble paradise, not everyone is an angel. If you do strike up a friendship with a stranger, don't give him or her your room number under any circumstances. If you want to meet for dinner or drinks, meet at the restaurant.

2. Don't carry a lot of cash and keep what you have close to you at all times.
If there's a safe at the hotel, make use of it. If not, it's still better to leave your cash in an unobtrusive place in your locked hotel room (maybe tucked in the bottom corner of your suitcase) than to bring all of it along for the ride. If there's a kleptomaniac among the hotel's housekeeping staff, at least there'll be a much better chance of tracing your cash than if it's lost or stolen on the street. If you have a credit card, write down the account number and the phone number of your financial institution and keep that info in a separate place. That way, if you lose the card itself, you'll still be able to call and report it stolen.

Take only what you need for the day and wear it close to you, preferably in your front pocket or in a small bag worn diagonally across your body or otherwise clipped or secured to you. Fanny packs won't win on Project Runway, but they'll keep your cash safe. Think twice about storing currency in a backpack. If you can't see it, you can't see that pickpocket reaching into the flap. Be careful too of large, open or floppy bags, which are also enticing to wandering fingers. And one more thing: If you can, divide the money you carry so that most of it is, say, in your bag, while the smaller portion is snug in your pocket. That way, if you do get ripped off one way or the other, you'll still have enough to get you back to the hotel.

3. Be aware of your surroundings.
This includes both people and places. Familiarize yourself with a map before you head out so you won't have to stand in the middle of the street like a deer in headlights, sporting that dazed tourist look for any predator who might set you in his sights. Stay close to other tourists, but beware of people who brush against you or start a commotion nearby. These are both time-honored tricks of pickpockets. Always keep in mind where you are in relation to your home base. If you must ask for directions, ask certified personnel in visitor centers, hotels, police stations, or even shops or restaurants rather than stop a stranger.

4. Keep emergency info close at hand. Always carry ID, phone numbers of relatives back home, the number of your hotel, the number of the American embassy or consulate if traveling abroad, and any essential medical history including allergies and current medications (if you have a bracelet for a specific condition, make sure you wear it). If you don't speak the predominant language, carry a pocket guide of traveler's phrases. Also, hang onto the customer service number for your credit account. A few years ago, I was surprised to learn that my MasterCard provides all kinds of complimentary services for customers in crisis overseas. Yours may, too.

5. Stay in touch with family and friends at home. Call or email them nightly and let them know where you are and where you're going in the day ahead. Leave a copy of your itinerary, including hotel numbers, with at least one trusted person at home. Ask them to call your hotel--and the American consulate or embassy if necessary--and start tracking you down if you're incommunicado for 24 hours.

6. When in doubt, take the road more traveled.
It should go without saying that you shouldn't isolate yourself when traveling alone. Stick to your travel route, and don't let unaffiliated native guides or drivers entice you with discounted fees.

7. Lock up.
This should go without saying, too, but lock your doors, lock your windows, lock your bags. This goes for cars, hotels, or anywhere else you're parking yourself for a short-term stay. DO NOT assume that just because it's remote and beautiful, it must be crime-free.

8. Travel in groups.
There's always safety in numbers. Many resorts and attractions offer guided tour groups. In fact, some singles book a whole vacation with a tour group, from takeoff to touchdown. Such tour groups, which are increasingly catering to singles, are a risk-free opportunity to fulfill your travel dreams. By connecting you with a knowledgeable tour guide and other singles, tour groups are your safety cushion in case of an emergency, a travel planner for the disorganized, and a meet and greet for the lonesome. Which brings us to our final excuse....

....But that's for next time. ;)


If you're a single who travels alone, what tips do you have for safe vacationing?



Fun Link of the Day