Personal Safety

Most of staying out of harm’s way comes down to using common sense: Lock your house and car, know who to call when you need help, and be prepared for emergencies. Easier said than done! We often postpone doing what we know we should, or let common-sense safety precautions slide entirely, in the haste and distractions of daily life. These lists will tell you what you need to do and what you should have on hand to prevent—or deal with—emergencies, so you can be calm and efficient when it really matters.

How to Avoid Being a Victim

Next to common sense, your best personal safety tool just might be your “uncommon sense,” your intuition. Take yourself seriously if you sense danger or have a bad feeling about a person or situation. Do not be embarrassed or afraid to offend: Get away immediately. The National Crime Prevention Council suggests these ways to keep yourself safe wherever you are.

AT HOME

1. Don’t hide house keys in planters, mailboxes, under doormats, or in other common (and obvious) places.
2. Don’t put your name or address on your keys. Losing them irretrievably is much better than giving a criminal the key to your house and car.
3. Don’t open the front door without finding out who it is. Verify the identification of service personnel, even if you are expecting them.
4. Don’t rely on door chains. They can easily be kicked in or otherwise broken.
5. Never give personal information to unknown or “wrong number” callers. This includes your phone number, social security number, credit card number, and address.
6. Don’t reply to harassing phone calls. Hang up immediately.

IN PUBLIC

1. Stay alert to your surroundings. Take note of who is behind and ahead of you. Use your peripheral vision to keep track of anyone gaining on you.
2. Get away. Don’t second-guess your instincts just to avoid embarrassment or give someone the benefit of the doubt. If you think you’re being followed, cross the street if possible and go to a well-lit place where there are other people.
3. Carry a shrill whistle and don’t be embarrassed to use it if you suspect you may be in danger.
4. Always walk as if you know exactly where you are going. Stand up straight and make brief, self-confident eye contact with people around you. Police believe that rapists and muggers target victims who appear vulnerable, weak, easily intimidated, or who seem to be daydreaming. Conduct yourself accordingly!
5. Hold on to your valuables. Women should carry their purses close to the body. Men should carry wallets in inside coat pockets, not pants pockets.
6. Don’t look like an easy target. Avoid carrying large amounts of money and wearing obviously expensive jewelry. Handle your money and credit cards carefully; try not to display them while making transactions.
7. Plan the safest route when walking—day or night. Avoid alleys, vacant lots, deserted streets, and construction sites.
8. Lighten your load. Avoid walking with a large load of packages or grocery bags. They slow you down and make it difficult to react quickly.
9. On public transportation:

• Avoid sitting near doors and exits. You are more vulnerable to being robbed or attacked by a criminal on foot.
• Be aware of who gets off a bus or train with you. If you think you’re being followed, walk directly to an area with other people and good lighting.
10. In an elevator:

• Take a quick look before getting in an elevator. If someone suspicious is on board, or gets on with you, back out and wait for another car.
• Stand near the elevator controls.
• If you are attacked, hit the alarm and as many floor buttons as possible.

IN THE CAR

1. Lock your door and keep the windows rolled up. Always lock the doors when you park your car, no matter where you are or how brief a time you’ll be away.
2. Look around. Check the front and back seats and floors of your car before getting in.
3. Keep your car well maintained and the gas tank at least half full. This will lessen the chance of your being vulnerable on the highway.
4. If your car does break down, put up the hood and lock your doors and windows. Set out flares if you have them and use your cell phone to call for assistance. If a stranger stops to help and you don’t have a phone with you, roll the window down an inch or so and ask him to call police or a tow truck. (See chapter 18, “What to Carry in Your Car”).
5. Don’t drive home if you’re being followed. Go to a police station or a well-lit service station where you can use the phone. Never get out of your car unless you’re positive you can get inside safely.
6. Don’t pull over if someone tries to force you off the road. Get a description of the vehicle and write down the license number. Drive immediately to a police station or any open business and report the incident to the police.
7. Don’t stop if a passing motorist indicates something is wrong with your vehicle. Drive to a well-lit area with people around before stopping to check your car.
8. Don’t stop in an isolated area to help someone who appears to have a disabled vehicle. Drive to a phone and call for help instead.
9. Don’t stop for flashing headlights or another signal from another car unless you see the blue or red lights of a police vehicle.
10. Put your purse on the floor of the car while you’re driving. Leaving it conspicuously on the passenger seat could tempt a thief to break in and grab it.
11. Never pick up hitchhikers. Need it be said?

IF YOU ARE ATTACKED
1. Staying calm is your best defense because you’ll be better able to judge the situation and consider your options.
2. If the attacker is unarmed—and if you sense you could get away—fight back. But not getting injured is your first priority. If the attacker has a weapon, don’t take the risk of resisting.
3. If your life is threatened, do anything you can to hurt your attacker and get away. Concentrate your attack at the eyes and groin. If you’re holding your keys, jam them right into the eyes if you can. Don’t wait to check the effect, run away as fast as you can.
4. You may be able to avert an attack by behaving bizarrely. Experts suggest acting crazy, picking your nose, throwing up—whatever comes into your head.

If Your Wallet Is Stolen . . .

When your wallet is stolen, you have two major issues to deal with. They are (to paraphrase the old Jack Benny joke) your money and your life. A thief with your driver’s license and credit cards can use the contents of your wallet to obtain a new set of identification documents in your name—making your funds and your credit line completely accessible. Following the steps in this checklist will help ensure that your identity as well as your money and credit are protected.

1. Report the crime to the police right away and get a copy of the police report. You may be asked for it later by your credit card companies, your insurance company, your bank, or other agencies to verify the crime.
2. Call each credit card company to report the theft right away. If you’re away from home, ask a family member, neighbor, or house sitter to pull your master list of credit card numbers and other relevant information from your files to make sure you cancel every card. (See chapter 2, “Records and Documents You Need at Home.”)
3. Report the theft to the three major credit reporting agencies, Experian (formerly TRW), 800-682-7654; Trans Union, 800-916-8800; Equifax, 800-685-1111. This alerts them to halt any credit checks that could be the result of a thief shopping in your name.
4. If your checkbook or ATM card was taken, call your bank immediately and stop payment on outstanding checks that don’t sound familiar. Request new bank accounts, a new ATM card, and a new PIN.
5. If you have a safe deposit box at the bank, call that department to report the theft.
6. Notify the passport office to watch for anyone using your identification to obtain a fraudulent passport.
7. Inform your local and long distance telephone carriers and your utility companies that someone might try to open service in your name.
8. If your keys have also been stolen, change all the locks on your home and car.
9. After the theft:

• Monitor your credit card and bank statements carefully for charges that occurred after the theft and that might have slipped past officials at these agencies.

• Order your credit report from all three agencies (Experian, Trans Union, Equifax) at least quarterly, to catch possible fraudulent use of your credit.