• Stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Keep track of who is in front of and behind you.
• Walk purposefully and with confidence, with your head up. Also make quick eye contact with those around you.
• Don't wear shoes or clothing that restrict your movements.
• Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in a place or situation, leave.
• If you think someone is following you, switch direction or cross the street. Walk toward an open store, restaurant, or lighted house. If you're scared, yell for help.
• Walk with a group when possible and face traffic so you can see the approaching cars. Also, walk close to the curb, away from shrubbery and other dark places where a would-be attacker could be lurking. One thing about walking close to the curb is also to look for vans that might be slowing down, it's very easy for the side door to open up, grab someone and drive away without anybody else seeing it.* Avoid shortcuts through wooded areas, parking lots, or alleys.
• Carry belongings close to your body, preferably, instead of a purse use a fanny pack, and do not flaunt expensive clothes or jewelry.
• Don't let a passerby distract you. Criminals sometimes work in pairs - one may ask you for directions, fake an injury, or beg for money - and the other may be out of sight, ready to attack. Watch your back.
• Avoid jogging or biking at night. Also consider NOT wearing headphones-it is safer to be alert.
• When using a public phone, stay alert. Keep the call short and simple.
• If you feel threatened in an elevator, get off at the next floor. If attacked in an elevator, push the alarm button and as many floor buttons as possible.

• Park in a well lit area, if at night, near a light pole, but not near the side door of a van. It's very easy for someone to grab you from the van and drive away without anybody seeing anything.*
• Have keys in your hand as you approach your house or car.
• Look under AND around your car as you approach. People have hidden underneath cars and around the side*, just out sight. Also look inside your car before you open it. Even better is to have an alarm or remote entry system that will turn on the interior light before you open the door so you can see inside clearly.
• Drive with car doors locked and keep windows up whenever possible.
• Keep your purse and packages under your seat or in the trunk to help prevent a "smash and grab."
• Keep a good distance between your car and the car in front of you so you can maneuver away if necessary.
• If you think someone is following you, don't head home. Go to the nearest police or fire station, gas station, or other open business to get help.
• Don't pick up hitchhikers. Don't hitchhike.
• If your car breaks down, raise the hood, use flares, and tie a white cloth to the door handle or antenna. Stay in your car. When someone stops, ask them to call the police.

• If possible, remove or cover jewelry when using public transportation.
• While waiting for public transportation, stand near other people or near the ticket booth.
• Always keep emergency money for cab fare, bus or train fare, or a telephone call. Have exact fare ready when boarding a bus.
• Try to sit near the driver or conductor.
• Watch who gets off with you. If you feel uneasy, walk directly to a place where there are other people.

If You Are Threatened by Someone

• "Don't ever get into a strange car, even when a weapon is used to coerce you into the vehicle. Make as much noise to attract attention to the perpetrator as possible. This will usually scare him off and it is doubtful that the criminal will use the weapon on you while in a public place. Once in the vehicle, you may never be seen alive again."* This cannot be stated strong enough, studies have shown that if a victim is taken to "crime scene B"**, they are more than likely not going to survive.
• Try to remain calm - do not resist handing over your valuables. You do not want to risk escalating a property crime to a violent crime. If all the assailant wants is property, you do not want to risk your life for something that can be replaced. You cannot be replaced. Obviously, we advocate being able to defend yourself, however, that is only if your personal safety is at risk.
• Be aware that any item you can use as a weapon also may be used against you.  This is why it is vitally important to be familiar with the uses and functions of any weapon you may choose to carry.
• If you are verbally or physically harassed, attract attention by talking loudly or screaming.
• Another option is to look past him to a person near by and say loudly "Are you ready dear?" or honey and start walking towards them.  When you get to them just keep going.  (Submitted by Richard Luntz of Clarksville, TN)
• Get as accurate a description of the attacker, starting from the head all the way down to the feet, and vehicle, color, plate number, what kind of car, how many doors, how many passengers, as possible and call the police immediately.

Around the House

• When you are home - keep the doors locked.
• Get a view hole for the front door - and USE IT.
• If you do not know who someone is, don't let them in. If they say they are from a utility, tell them to hold on and then CALL the company. The company will tell you if someone is suppose to be there and should be able to tell you who that person is. If they can't confirm that an employee is working in the area, call 911.
• If someone breaks in when you are home, call 911 and tell them as much info as possible without being discovered. Once discovered, DO NOT hang up the phone. If you didn't have time to give you address, they should be able to trace the call so a squad car can be dispatched. Also, the 911 tapes can be used as evidence if it picks up the offenders voice.
• If you come home and the door is open, DO NOT go in. Go to a neighbors house and call 911. Let the officers go in to see if someone is still there. That's their job, let them do it. They are more prepared to deal with confronting an offender than a citizen is.
• If you know you will be coming home when it's dark, be sure to leave a light on. Better still, get timers for at least one light in the house.
• All first floor windows should have bars or be glass block windows. There are also new products out that can make normal windows strong enough to withstand a baseball bat. Basically, you want the windows to be so difficult to get through that a would be criminal decides to go to the next house.
• Use dead bolt locks. Make sure to reinforce the wood behind the dead bolt, either with a steel plate or using extra long screws, for example, 3 inch screws to mount the latch plate.
• When you are not home, lock the windows. If that is not practical, make sure they can be locked in a specific position, usually a couple of inches. Most new windows have this option. With older windows, have a piece of wood cut to put on top of the window so the window will not open more than a few inches.
• At night, keep the front porch light on.
• For the sides and back of the house, use motion sensor lights.
• Make sure lights go on in the garage and you can see in the garage before you pull in. Pulling in front first is usually best, that way the headlights will light up the garage even more.
• If you have expensive items (VCR, TV, Computer, Stereo) don't position them so they can be seen from the outside. If a criminal can see them through the windows, it's an invitation to try and get into the house.

Dating

There are many ways to meet people today.  A lot of people today are meeting people online.  No matter how you meet someone, you should always take precautions to protect yourself.  Date rape is a very real thing and has happened to women who were set up by their closest friends.  Never assume that because someone you know set you up that this person will not try to harm you.

• Never give someone your home address or last name.  There are numerous ways for someone to find if they have your full name.
• Don't call someone from your home phone.
• Always provide your own transportation to and from wherever you agree meet the person.
• Always meet in a well lit, public place, preferably a restaurant or somewhere there are likely to be numerous employees of a business.
• When out to dinner with someone new, remember drugs are available that can incapacitate anyone.  If you leave the table for any reason, order a new drink.  Do not continue drinking from a glass that is on the table.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is not a violent crime, however, we wanted to mention it because it can cause havoc on someone's mental well being.  Much like a violent crime, it is an invasion.  When someone is the victim of identity theft, they feel like they've been violated.  Their entire identity had been taken!

If your identity is stolen, at the very least, you should report it to the police.  Immediately after that you should contact the three main credit reporting agencies, followed by any credit card companies you own credit cards for.  Here are the numbers for the three credit reporting agencies, as well as the Social Security Adminstration Fraud Line:

Equifax	1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW)	1-888-397-3742
Trans Union	1-800-680-7289
Social Security Administration (fraud line)	1-800-269-0271

Here are some tips on how to avoid all the headaches and hassles associated with identity theft.

• Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, copy both sides of each license, credit card, etc., so you will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.  Keep the photocopies in a safe place.
• Have your card numbers and the toll free numbers handy so you know whom to call.  Keep those where you can find them easily.  File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation.
• Do not give personal information over the telephone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact.
• Shred documents and pre-approved credit applications received in your name.
• Never use your mother's maiden name, your birth date, or the last four digits of your social security number as a password.
• Keep your social security card, birth certificate, or passport at home in a safe place.  Do not carry them unless necessary, for example, applying for a job or traveling in another country.
• Do not print your social security number of driver's license number on your checks.

And last, but not least, order your credit report at least twice a year.  Reports can be obtained from a local credit reporting agency or by contacting any of the following:

Equifax	1-800-685-1111	http://www.equifax.com/
Experian (formerly TRW)	1-888-397-3742	http://www.experian.com/
Trans Union	1-800-680-7293	http://www.transunion.com/