Home Safety

Here are some tips to reduce your chance of being victimized:

  • Answer doors and phones so a potential burglar will know your home is occupied.
  • Never tell a caller you are alone; give the impression that someone is with you.
  • Look through the peephole to see who is outside the door. Never open it to anyone you do not know and trust.
  •  Verify repairmen with their dispatchers before allowing them inside; have a friend with you or have them call you several times; make these precautions obvious.
  • If someone you do not know asks to make an emergency phone call, do not open the door; make the call for them.
  • Children are less cautious; be careful about letting them answer the door or phone at an early age.
  • If you think that a forced entry has been made, do not go inside. Go to a safe place and get help as soon as possible.
  • Plan escape routes and keep emergency numbers posted by your phones.
  • In apartment complexes, be cautious of laundry rooms, parking lots, and isolated areas; insist that they be well-lit; use them only when accompanied by a trusted friend or neighbor.
  • Consider installing a Caller-ID system to your existing phone line.  Never give out information about yourself or where you live.
  • Do not indicate on your mailbox or in the phone directory that you are a female or living alone.
  • If you are confronted and must yell for help, yell "Fire!" This phrase gets the best response from bystanders. Break glass or blow a car horn -- anything to bring attention to your plight.
  • There is strength in numbers. Join with neighbors to start an effective Community Watch in your community.
  • Never carry large sums of money.
  • Carry your purse firmly near your body.
  • Avoid flashing money or expensive jewelry.
  • Avoid being in isolated areas where an assailant can easily attack you without being witnessed.
  • If confronted in an assaultive manner, remove yourself from the situation ASAP and notify police.
  • If you are the target of an armed robbery, give the robber what he wants and seek safety immediately. Remember, material possessions can be replaced; your life cannot.

 

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