At Home
Always leave your headlights on when arriving home after dark until you have
unlocked the garage door.
When arriving home by private auto or taxi, ask the driver to wait until you are
safely inside.
Have the door key in your hand so you can open the door immediately when you
return home.
If you are a woman alone, list only your first initial and last name on the
mailbox, or in the telephone directory.
When moving into a new apartment or residence, ALWAYS have the locks re-keyed,
or changed.
Know who is at your door before opening it.
Wide angle door viewers (180 degrees or 190 degrees) enable you to identify the
visitor. You can see the person, that person can't see you.
Never rely on chain locks. They are a privacy lock, but not a security lock.
Never dress in front of windows, always close your drapes.
Never let anyone into your home without proper identification.
Don't be afraid to ask for identification.
Never let strangers into your home to use the telephone. Make the call for them
while they wait outside.
Always leave outside lights on after dark, or use motion lights.
If you receive a wrong number phone call, don't give out your name or phone
number.
If you receive an obscene phone call, hang up and call police.
In an apartment building, NEVER be alone in the laundry room.
If you suspect that someone is in your house, do not go in. Go to a neighbor and
call the police.
If you see or hear anything suspicious, call the police.
At Places of Business
Opening the business: Have two employees together meet and
unlock the business. One should stay outside, while the other checks the
interior. After clearing, both may enter.
Closing the Business: Employees should accompany each other to
their vehicles-- especially at night. If this is not possible, perhaps a
security guard for the shopping center can escort the last employee to his/her
car.
Bank Deposits: Making bank deposits alone can be dangerous.
Employees making deposits should always go in pairs. If you are alone, vary
deposit times and carry the deposit inside a purse or a plain bag. Do not use a
bank bag or a bag with a name on it. NEVER make deposits after closing, as this
is obvious and could result in a hold-up.
Taking out the trash: Doing this in pairs is much safer, both
for the employees and the business.
Panic buttons: Install panic buttons at the front counter. Make
sure there are phones near both front and rear entrances.
Controlling Access: This enhances personal security. Keep
secondary exits locked. Limit access to secondary exits by non-employees by
having doors alarmed and labeled "EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY" or limit access to the
area around the door.
Keep Restrooms Locked: Be in control of access to restrooms,
storage areas, etc. This prevents assailants from hiding in waiting and
"breakouts."
ID Badges for Access Control: They are only as good as the
enforcement of the policy.
Visibility: This increases safety. Keep parking and walking
areas well lit, and keep the area around the building clear of debris. Stacks of
boxes and pallets can be hiding places for assailants. Install mirrors or Closed
Circuit TV in rooms with blind corners and in enclosed parking facilities.
While You Are Out
Try NOT to go out alone at night. Avoid unfamiliar areas, if possible.
Don't take shortcuts: don't walk in or near alleys, and don't walk on deserted
streets.
Use caution in parking lots, and don't walk in poorly lighted areas, or dark
doorways, or near shrubbery.
Don't accept rides from strangers, and don't respond to comments from strangers
on the street.
Don't get into an empty elevator with a stranger. If you do ride with another
person, stand near the control panel and if attacked, press an many of the
control buttons as possible.
Don't hitchhike, and if someone suspicious is following you, cross the street
and walk into an open business.
Watch your surroundings and be alert for suspicious persons, especially around
banks, stores, street, and your car or home.
If you are alone at work after business hours, keep the door locked. If you work
late, ask the security guard or a co-worker to walk you to your car.
When meeting a new friend, exchange phone numbers only, not addresses.
On a first date, let family and friends know where you are going. Consider a
daytime meeting rather than a night meeting, for a first date, and meet in a
public place.
It is never a good idea to go to a nightclub alone, and if you do, provide your
own transportation.
Keep your space - Intimate space - 0 to 1.5 feet Personal space - 1.5 to 4 feet
Social space - 4 to 12 feet Public space - 12 feet or more.
Don't allow alcohol or drugs to impair your judgment. If you haven't already set
a few social standards, do so and stick to them.
Don't allow an overly aggressive pursuer to change your mind.
In Your Automobile
Never pickup hitchhikers.
Don't park in the dark.
Never leave your keys in the car.
Never allow another vehicle to follow you home.
Have your keys in hand so you can open the car door without delay.
Always keep your car in gear when stopped at a traffic signal or stop sign, so
if threatened in any way, you can quickly drive away.
Always check the back seat of your car before getting in.
If you stop to aid others, do not get out of the car. Ask what the problem is,
and go to the nearest phone and call the police.
Always lock your doors while driving.
Always prearrange meeting with anyone so you do not have to wait alone.
What To Do If You Are Attacked
Use common sense. Try to talk your way out of it.
Stall for time.
Be verbally assertive.
Distract or divert the assailant, then flee.
Run toward an open business or a group of people.
Hide if you get the opportunity.
Scream loudly, and keep it up to attract attention and help from people near by.
If the attacker threatens you with a deadly weapon, and you come out of it
alive, you took the proper course of action. During an armed attack, you must
decide the proper course of action. There is no hard and fast rule as to self
defense. You must consider your physical capabilities, your location, and your
perceived chances of success. If you cannot escape, bide your time and look for
another opportunity, a half-hearted attempt could be worse than no attempt at
all.
Notify the police immediately, when you get the opportunity, and if there are
witnesses, ask them to stay until police arrive.
And finally, if a crime occurs, report it. When you report a crime and all the
facts about it, it helps the police to assign officers in the places where
crimes are occurring or where they are most likely to occur. If you don't report
a crime, this allows the criminal to operate without interference. Tell the
police what you know. No fact is too trivial.
Robbery Prevention Tips
Avoid poorly lit areas. If you must walk through such areas, walk purposefully
and with an air of confidence.
When walking to your vehicle, have your car keys in hand, before walking across
the parking lot.
When you enter your vehicle, immediately lock your doors.
When driving, keep your doors locked at all times and your car windows rolled up
to the point that an arm can't be stuck into your vehicle.
When possible, don't walk alone or on dark streets, or take short cuts through
deserted area.
Avoid displaying large amounts of cash, and keep tempting targets, such as
jewelry, as hidden as much as possible.
Before you use a bank's automated teller machine, be observant. Look around the
area for people loitering. If you see a suspicious person or persons, do not use
that machine at that time.
Whenever possible, park your car in a well-lit area and as close to an open
business as possible.