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General Safety Tips
- If someone approaches you with a weapon or grabs you, ask what the person wants. Chances are, the person only wants your pocketbook or money, in which case, just turn it over. We have seen victims sustain serious injuries and they rarely think that their wallets were worth the injuries they have sustained. If however the person tries to get you in a car to take you to another location, scream for help.
- Follow your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable about the way an approaching person is looking at you or acting, cross the street.
- If you are walking and are being followed by a car, start running the opposite direction. It takes longer for the car to turn around.
- Know where your nearest police station is located and ensure your children do as well. Introduce your children to police officers so they know how to recognize them.
- If you are driving and feel that a car is following you, drive directly to your nearest police station and start honking the horn when you are arriving.
- If you think that you are being followed while you are walking, run into the nearest open store, preferably a place which has a security guard. Ensure that your child knows which stores have security guards.
- If you think you are being followed, look up towards a nearby building and wave to send the impression that someone is watching you. This may deter the person following you.
- If you or child has been attacked, do not change clothes, bath or go to the bathroom before calling the police and going to the hospital to get medical treatment and to ensure that any available evidence can be collected.
- Do not leave a car with a visible garage opener in your driveway. Burglars can use the garage opener to gain entry to your garage and if the door between your garage and your home is not locked, they can then gain entry to your home.
- Post alarm company signs on your front door or window whether or not you actually have an alarm.
- Even if you do not have a dog, you can still put a sign outside your house reading "Beware of Dog."
- Even if you are a woman living alone, you can put large men's boots, shoes or clothing on your porch to send the impression that you do not live alone.
- Never have a child's voice on the telephone answering machine outgoing message.
- Say on the answering machine "We" cannot come to the phone instead of "I" to leave the impression that there are other people living there. Consider having a male voice on the answering machine even if a male does not live there.
- If you have been the victim of a violent crime, keep your telephone number and address unlisted.
- Do not put your social security number on your driver's license. The Motor Vehicles Bureau can assign another number to you.
- Ask your bank whether they have debit or credit cards on which they can put your picture, to ensure no one else can use your card.
- If you see someone waiting near an ATM machine, go to another machine or wait until the person is gone before approaching the machine.
- Have your keys in your hands when you walk to your car or house at night so that you will not be fumbling through your pocketbook looking for your keys outside at night.
- Don't look down at the ground when you are walking around at night. People are less likely to attack individuals who appear alert and aware to things around them.
- Keep a "Please call police" sign in your car. This way if you get stuck on the side of the road, helpful people will call the police and individuals who may have bad thoughts in mind will think police are on the way.
- Keep a jack and a flashlight in your car and don't let your gas tank go down too close to empty. You do not want to run out of gas when you are alone on a highway or far away from home.
- Worst case scenario, if you are locked in your car trunk, try to dismantle the rear brake light by pulling on the brake light wire or banging on the trunk and screaming. This will make it more likely someone will notice that something is wrong.
- Avoid isolated places when you are alone.
- Install a peephole in your front door.
- If someone comes to your door claiming to be a police officer or a service professional, ask to see identification. Look through your window to see if you see a police car or cable car or Service provider car parked outside. If you did not order any special services, tell the person to leave and that you will call the company if you decide you want their services. You can also call the police department or the service provider to verify that the person was sent. Use the word "we" when telling the person that you do not want the services so that they will assume other people are inside.
- Leave lights on in your house when you leave your house.
- Use deadbolts.
- Do not leave your car unlocked even if you are just running in the gas station to pay for gas. Always look inside your car's front and back seat before you enter your car.
- If you return home and your door, window or lock looks like it has been broken, call the police. Do not enter your home alone.
- If you are going out, even on a date, with someone who you do not know well, drive separately and meet in a public place.
- Do not leave your drinks unattended and do not drink something you did not order or open or see poured. "Date rape drugs" may have been put in your drink when you were not paying attention.
- Avoid parking in isolated or poorly lit areas.
- If you are attacked, free counseling is available. Please call victims' services at 314-622-4373 for a referral.
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