The unfortunate reality of society today is that people are being victimized and targeted every day. That means we as citizens need to be prepared and alert for anything, at any time. While this can be very intimidating (and unfortunate), there are simple ways to keep yourself safe. It is easy to have the "it'll never happen to me" attitude, but the reality is it CAN happen to you, and the better we can prepare ourselves, the more we can reduce and ultimately eliminate these crimes.
A year ago I felt like my home was the safest place I could be, until I came home from work one day to find it broken into and my belongings long gone. If you have never experienced a break in, it is less about what was taken and more about your personal space feeling violated.
Unfortunately, it took a negative experience to open my eyes to personal safety. While I have never been careless in terms of my safety, there are always ways we can be better.
Here are a few quick and easy tips to keep yourself and others safe:
Take your key out before you approach your front door. Not only could you potentially use this as a weapon if someone unwanted approaches you, but with your key out, you will be able to enter your home quicker.
If you feel like someone is following you (in your car), change directions or cross the street, if that person continues to follow you, head in the direction towards a lighted area and call the police.
Be a good citizen. If you see something, say something. It seems more recently we've heard people speak up too late to make a difference. You never want to be in a situation where you kept quiet and could have saved a life.
Be aware of your surroundings. Unfamiliar noises, someone in an area they shouldn't be, a person walking too close to you at night... these are all things to be aware of. These days it seems everyone has their ear buds glued in, but if you are walking alone at night (especially in the city) take your ear buds out, so you can hear what is going on around you.
A few tips specific to "at home" safety:
Write down all of the serial numbers for your electronics. If your items are stolen, it is much easier for the police to track them down with these numbers (especially because they are most likely being pawned). In addition to noting serial numbers, keep a record of your belongings. It is much harder to remember what you had after it is all gone.
Get renters insurance. Most complexes require this, which is great, but if not, do yourself a favor and pay for renters insurance. While it might seem like an expense you can live without, it is worth it in the end.
Keep your windows locked (especially if you live on the first floor).
Don't open your door to someone you don't know. Regardless of what the person is saying on the other side of the door, if you don't recognize the voice or you weren't expecting someone, it is probably best to ignore them. If they do not leave, call the police.
The best advice for personal safety is to trust your instinct. If something feels off, it probably is. Don't be afraid to reach out to someone for help or call if you notice something suspicious. If we as citizens continue to work together to help prevent crime, we can be the change we need so badly in the world today.