Avoid Becoming A Victim

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One of the best things you can do to start the ball rolling is involve the community and start a community watch. Depending on how ambitious you are, if you do not already have a program in your area, start your own with members on your block and when you feel comfortable, invite the rest of the community. If there already is a program in place, attend the meetings and see if they are all talk or are actually making a difference. If they are all talk, then it is up to you to become a leader and show them how to do things.

Interest in community involvement can be perked when you offer valuable content and a reason to come and participate. Invite knowledgeable guest speakers to teach skills such as a Red Cross worker who may want to show the basics of CPR and invite you to sign up for the full class, or a police office who may help you set up a neighborhood watch, or a fireman who will teach you fire safety specifically to your children. There are many different ideas to get people to come to the meetings and want to participate. Offer snacks and beverages for after the meetings. All in attendance could even bring one dish to save on money. Ask the park district or a local library to give you the space and privacy for the meetings. Sometimes it is hard to get interest in these things if the meetings are irregular or just too many. Strive for a meeting at least twice a month and no more than once a week.

When you get the community involved and professionals to teach the basics, you will all learn at the same time and can be more effective when you need to work together. Check first to see if there is such a program in your community and if not, consider starting your own.

You also need to take measures for yourself. It is your responsibility to follow through with educating yourself and your family on how to lessen your chances of being a target of any type of crime.

No matter how hard you prepare, sometimes a crime will happen to you. You want to lessen your chances of that happening, but if someone wants to choose you as your target, you will have to also know how to deal with the situation at hand.

It really doesn't matter who you are, how old you are, your height and weight, your race, your religion, your education or whatever, you need to learn how to defend yourself from people who wish you wrong.

The purpose of a self defense class is not to go around starting a fight and not to totally overthrow and kill an attacker. The purpose is to get out of the situation in the best possible way. At times you may have no other choice but to kill the attacker. On the other extreme, the best thing is to just give them what they want and walk away alive. Each situation requires different action. The only way you will know how to handle different endless possible situations is by taking a comprehensive self defense course.

There are many possible types of self defense course for you to choose depending on your preference and abilities. There are many different types of martial arts classes with different styles of teaching and philosophy. There are also street fighting classes that teach how to deal with common thugs to those who really wish you fatal harm. Sometimes those classes are just to get out clean and others are purely fighting dirty. There are classes specifically for women, children, mature adults, overweight and those with disabilities. A class you choose must reflect your personal abilities and beliefs. You must also consider cost and time factors. If you cannot afford to complete the class, find something more within your budget. If you find a class that is at times you can only half way attend, you would be better finding something that has more time slots available.

There are many books and tapes on self defense which are a good start, but really should be used in the context of actual hands on practice by those who are trained. It is better than nothing by using them solely, but if used incorrectly when it matters most can cost you your life or put you in more danger.

• Always, lock your door, even when you intend to return home shortly.
• Lock or secure all doors and windows when you are alone or asleep.
• If you have a sliding door, use a metal pole or a broom in the bottom tray of the frame to keep the door from sliding if the lock is picked on the outside
• If your neighborhood has a lot of stray dogs, consider getting a chain link or privacy fence.
• If you have young children, consider getting a privacy fence.
• Keep emergency numbers by the phone.
• Do not let strangers enter your home.
• If someone comes to your home for any official business, require an id. Even if they say they are the police. Examine it at your leisure and if you are still unsure, call the place where they say they are from by looking for the phone number from a phone book and confirm they are who they say they are. (A person may give you a business card to call, however if it is a con artist the number will be to an accomplice. This is why you should look up the phone number from a phone book.)
• If your garage is attached to your home, lock the garage with a key or a security code that can be used by remote.
• Beware of any package from people you do not know.
• Beware of any package you did not order.
• Give your children a list of people who are allowed to come in the home and make it clear if they are not on the list they are not allowed to come in.
• Know who your children's friends are, their parents, and their address and phone numbers. Know what kind of people they are before you allow your children into
• their home. Especially be aware if their parents have guns in the home.
• Train your children not to open the door to strangers.
• Teach your children how to answer the phone and not to disclose if you are away.
• Tell your children never to give out their name, address or phone number to anyone they do not know, or they meet on the Internet - even if they are or claim to be children.
• Do not send your child out of the house wearing anything or carrying anything where their names can be seen.
• Tell your children if they are outside and some adult drives up to them asking for help or directions to run home or yell for an adult to help them. If they are really in need for help, only an adult can help. Tell them never approach a car of a stranger.
• If a stranger approaches the child for any reason, teach your child to keep a safe distance. If the stranger tries to talk to them they should go to the nearest trusted adult.
• If a stranger asks for help from a child, the child should always refer them to an adult for help.
• If a stranger grabs a child, teach them to scream and fight dirty to prevent the stranger from going away with them.
• If a stranger takes your child, teach your child ways to draw attention to them such as screaming, fighting, destruction to the stranger's car (especially while driving) or clothes and so forth.
• Teach your children the difference between a good touch and a bad touch.
• Teach your children they have the right to say NO to an adult who touches them in the wrong way.
• If anyone, child or adult, touches your child in a wrong way, make it known to your child that it is okay to tell them of the incident and they will not get in trouble.
• If another child touches your child in the wrong way, tell your child that the other child will not get in trouble but they are in need of help and by telling you, you can get the child some help.
• A healthy self esteem is the best protection to your child to prevent attacks from bullies.
• Teach your child that if a bully picks on them, they should stand up to them in whatever way is appropriate. Sometimes it will be in just verbally standing up for themselves, or telling an adult or just by beating the living daylights out of the bully. Send them to a self defense class.
• Never carry more than $10 in cash and change. Unless you are intending to spend a certain amount during your errand.
• When going on vacation, use traveler's checks.
• If someone asks to use your phone for an emergency call, offer to make the telephone call for them.
• Do not put your address on your key ring.
• Know your neighbors.
• Do not leave keys in hiding places.
• Keep track of all copies of your keys. If a copy is missing, change the lock.
• Call 911 or your police number to report suspicious people or activities in or around your neighborhood.
• Keep ATM cards in a safe place.
• Keep your ATM PIN number a secret. Do not write your PIN on your ATM card or keep it near your card. Memorize your PIN.
• When possible, only use ATMs during the day.
• Instead of carrying large sums of cash, use a charge card. Some charge cards insure property purchased with those cards against loss, theft or damage.
• Avoid walking along dark streets, poorly lit streets, or alleys.
• Avoid walking alone, especially in unfamiliar areas where no one knows you and you don't know them.
• If you are approached by a stranger asking you for help, keep your distance while you hear them out and sense if it is real or not.
• If you ever go off with a stranger to help them, use a pay or cell phone to let someone know what you are doing AND to call an official who might be able to help. For instance, if they say their car broke down, they shouldn't object if you call a tow truck and the police. If they say they already called them, why do they need your help - RUN! Or if they want the time, give it to them from a safe distance while you are walking away from them. Or if they need change to make a call, tell them you are out while you are still walking. (If they really need to make a call and have no money, that is what collect calls are for. Some may be beggars and others want you to stop to see if you have money to mug you.)
• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• If you are carrying a purse, wear it hanging over your shoulder and close to your body with your hand over the purse and the opening of the purse facing your body. If you have a wallet, try to keep it in a deep front pocket. It is best to carry money and important items in a fanny pack in front of you instead of on the side of you.
• When walking in an unfamiliar area, wear shoes that you can run in.
• If a female wearing high heels and you are attacked and cannot run, take off your shoes and run with them. If caught, use the heel as a weapon.
• If someone tries to take you somewhere that you do not want to go, fight as dirty as you can to get away from the moment they grab you.
• Avoid walking alone at night unless absolutely necessary.
• Avoid shortcuts and dark, isolated areas.
• Walk in a direct manner, briskly and with purpose, with shoulders and back erect and with an attitude while always observing those around you.
• Avoid potentially dangerous situations.
• If you feel threatened, cross the street, locate an emergency phone, or enter a store or place of business even if you have just left.
• Have your door keys ready; carry them in your pockets where you can quickly grab them on a moments notice. If you have to, they can be used as a weapon.
• Before you get in your car, look inside to make sure no one is in there. (Obviously, if someone is supposed to be in there, they should make you aware if someone who is not supposed to be there is present by body language that something is not right.)
• Look around your car before getting in. Sometimes pranksters or people who want to rob you will booby trap your car to force you to stop suddenly.
• Lock doors and roll up windows once inside and use safety belts.
• Never pick up hitchhikers.
• Do not hitchhike yourself.
• Carry change for emergency calls and get a cell phone.
• Drive to a police or fire station or open place of business if you think you are being followed.
• Do not stop to help other motorists whose cars are disabled. Instead, call from a cell phone or nearest pay phone to get the police. Note where the vehicle can be found.
• If your car breaks down, raise the hood and wait inside your locked car (with windows rolled up) until the police or tow truck arrives. This is why you should have a cell phone. If you do not have a cell phone, chances are someone will pass by that does who will call. Eventually, patrol officers will see you when doing their rounds. If a stranger approaches your car, only open your window a crack no more than 1/8th of an inch. If they ask to help you and you do not have a phone, just let them know all they can do is go away and call for help. Never open your door or window to them. Thank them and let them go to call for help. If they do not go, blow your horn as loud as you can to get attention. Never walk on a busy highway.
• If someone mugs or robs you, give them what they want. Preferably, throw your items at them while you run the other way.
• Do not leave your keys in the car.
• Always lock your car, even if it's in front of your home.
• Copy your tag number and vehicle identification number on a card and keep them with your driver's license.
• Keep your car registration in a fireproof safe.
• Keep the keys to your home and car separate.
• Keep your car in good running condition.
• Never drive on fumes. Keep at least a half tank in your car.
• Avoid parking in isolated areas.
• It is best not to have a gun in the house for protection since the odds are greater that it will be used against you or a family member.
• If you own a gun or guns, make sure you and every member of the family know how to use and clean it properly and gun safety rules.
• If you have children in your home, it is best not to own a gun.
• If your children go to a friend's home, find out if their parents own a gun or guns and how they store them.
• If you have children in your home and own a gun or guns, you should still instruct them on a gun, how it is used and cleaned and gun safety. You should teach them instead of hiding the fact that you have a gun, but you should make sure the guns are locked away where all family members know they are. If you hide them and make it a secret, your kids will find it and try to hide that fact from you. If they find it and do not know how to handle a gun safely, they could kill themselves or someone else.
• If you have a gun or guns in the home, keep them in a locked case. Keep the bullets in a separate area also locked. Keep the keys for both away from their locked cases and never key the keys for both together.
• Never give out your credit card number, social security number or any other personal information to anyone who calls you.
• Before you purchase anything by credit card on the Internet, research the company's credentials first before you give them the numbers and look for a secured site to process any orders. (A secured site will have a gold lock on the bottom right corner of your browser.)
• Never be pressured into making a purchase on the spot.
• If asked over the phone or in the mail to contribute to a charity, ask for a financial report.
• Be wary of get rich quick scams.
• Beware of anyone who is hanging around an ATM machine and approaches you as you go to use it saying they are bank officials and need to recruit your help. (Real bank officials do not need your help.)
• If a stranger approaches you claiming to have found a large sum of money and asks you if you want in on it, RUN! (If you found a lot of money, would you approach a total stranger and let them in on it?)
• If someone on the street is trying to sell you expensive merchandise really cheap, do not buy it. Sometimes they will have only a sample product and a lot of heavy closed boxes. You buy a closed and heavy box only to open it and find tightly packed bricks. Other times the items are stolen.
• If you are car jacked, let them take the car and jump out.
• If you are a child who is abused or neglected, notify a trusted adult or police.
• If you are an adult or teenager in an abusive relationship, report all abuse to the police the first time it happens and do not get back into that relationship.
• If you have been in an abusive relationship for awhile and have put up with it, it is harder to break away, but you must start now when you accept the fact that you do NOT deserve to be treated that way. If you are afraid of leaving because they may kill you, consider the fact that by staying they probably WILL kill you. Get help from the police and the YWCA or YMCA or a shelter.
• If you are a victim of a crime, note everything you can about the person and tell police everything.
• If you see graffiti in your neighborhood, clean it up immediately before your area is marked as fertile ground for this vandalism.
• If you find yourself in immediate danger, call 911

Sure, there are more things you should learn about protecting yourself and your family, but many things need to be taught within the class by a trained instructor. First things first, get the community thing together and then sign up for classes.

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