PERSONAL SECURITY

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Contents1. How to Prevent from becoming a victim

2. Don’t look like a victim

3. Mental Approach

4. While driving

5. If followed while driving

6. Additional While driving

7. Parking Lot safety

8. Home safety

9. Walking

10. Suspicious person

11. Conclusion

12. Responding to an attack

13. After an attack or incident

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How to Prevent From Becoming a Victim

• Deny access to target (you)

• Most crimes happen at a time & place the criminal chooses

Be aware of what is going on around you

If it looks like a duck

Walks like a duck

Quacks like a duck

What is it?????????????

A DUCK!!!!!!

DO NOT DISMISS YOUR “GUT FEELING”

• Avoid going out alone (a lion attacks the weak, young or sick) so do the two legged predators

• If you MUST go out alone – stay insight or yelling distance of people

If approached

1. Follow your instincts – gut feeling 2. Remember the DUCK!!!! 3. Look at person – not taken by surprise 4. Change walking/driving direction 5. Go into store/public place – call police

If subject has a gun

1. Give up your money, wallet, jewelry, shoes, whatever 2. Try to remember what the subject looked like

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3. Try to remember the manner and direction of escape

ELEVATORS

1. Take elevator rather than stairs 2. If possible, do not ride alone with stranger 3. If you’re uncomfortable with a stranger, get off 4. Stand near control panel – alarm button

Don’t Look Like a Victim Eyes down – no eye contact Slumped over Non-assertive body language

Mental Approach Mentally prepare yourself for situations that may become dangerous? Take the necessary steps to reduce your chances of becoming a victim? Be prepared to act in order to deal with a threatening situation? Use your instincts, do not ignore them.

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While Driving▬ Keep vehicle in gear while at a traffic signal▬Leave room between your car and the vehicle in front of you to pull around▬Place wallet, purse and valuables on floor NOT on seat- out of sight while driving. Do not store valuables in the car▬When stopped at an intersection -look around to see who is watching you▬Always lock car doors▬Drive with all windows up whenever possible▬ Cell phone or keep coins for emergency calls

If car breaks down

1. Accept NO rides2. If someone stops to ¡§help¡¨ ask them to call police (if you have no cell phone)3. Not usually a good idea to leave car and walk to get help

If you see someone experiencing car trouble

1. DO NOT STOP2. Note their location & vehicle type -call police

DO NOT pick up hitchhikers ►Keep your vehicle in good mechanical condition ►Never go below ½ tank of gasoline/oil/CNG

►Accidents:

1. If someone hits your car –remember the “DUCK”

►If “police” in unmarked car wants you to pull over:

1. Follow your instincts –remember the “DUCK”

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2. Drive to safe place to stop:

a. Police, fire station b. 24 hour convenience store

►Be alert to your surroundings at all times while driving ►Don’t let yourself get distracted (phone, cosmetics, reading, etc.) ►Keep your car keys and house keys separate

If Followed While Driving► If followed –Drive to the nearest

1. Police station 2. Fire station 3. 24 hour store ► Keep driving until you find a safe area. Drive while honking your horn and turn on your flashers to attract attention ► Don’t drive home, pull over to the side of the road, or turn onto a driveway. You could be trapped ► Attempt to obtain a license plate number and the description of the car and driver and report it to police

Additional While Driving► If someone tries to force you off the road, don’t stop. Find an open business, police, sheriff, fire station. ► Try to get a license number, description of the driver and car. Report to police

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Parking Lot Safety►Avoid parking next to large pickup trucks and vans ►Be alert to your surroundings at all times, especially getting in and out of your car ►If you park in a parking lot, walk in the center aisle, rather than close to park cars ► Do not park in Isolated areas ►Note where you parked your car, park in areas that will be well lit when you return

1. Walking around trying to find the car –you look like a VICTIM 2. Have the keys in your hand 3. Walk to the car in a group –“lion” 4. Glance under the car as you approach 5. Look in back seat before getting into the car

• As soon as you get into car –DRIVE away

• Always lock car doors

• Never leave valuables in plain view –store them in the trunk is possible

• Observe what is around you:

1. Who’s watching you 2. People sitting in cars or vans 3. REMEMBER THE “DUCK

• If approached: (statistically, if taken from area your chances of survival are diminished)

1. Follow your instincts –remember the “DUCK” 2. Take action 3. If in your car –honk the horn 4. If you are walking –run in the opposite direction 5. Do anything to draw attention –you do not want to be taken from the scene

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Home Safety► Have lights at all entrances ► Have a wide angle door viewer ► Check to see who is at the door before opening ► Ask for photo IDs for repair person –If you’re suspicious, call their employer ► Never give personal information to phone solicitors ► Secure air conditioners ► Don’t rely on garage door opener for security ► Keep the perimeter of the house well lit –use motion sensor activated lights ► Alarm systems –including signs on windows and lawns ► Organize a community watch program ► Trim bushes around windows to avoid giving burglars hiding spots ► Secure ladders and tools

► House numbers should be clearly visible ► Entry doors should be solid core or metal ► Sliding doors –special locks or handle ► Dead bolt locks –3” screws ► Never carry ID tags on house keys ► Do not hide extra keys in accessible areas –Criminals will find them ► Move to new house/apt. –locks rekeyed ► Special locks on double hung windows ► Be aware that “wrong numbers” may be a burglar

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► On the day of a funeral have friend or neighbor watch your house ► Mark property with “ID” number or video contents of apartment or house ► Do not let strangers into your home or apartment to use the phone

VACATION TIPS

◘ Stop mail, newspapers or have friend pick-up

◘ Have friend park car in your driveway or space or move your car periodically

◘ Do not leave phone messages telling people you’re away

◘ Timers to turn lights on & off

◘ Hide garbage cans

◘ Turn telephone sound down

◘ Leave shades and blinds in normal position

◘ Do I have to say it????? –lock doors and windows

◘ If house appears to have been broken into –DO NOT GO INSIDE –call police

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Walking►Walk with confidence with your head up ► Stay alert. Observe people and activities around you ►Walk in pairs whenever possible ►Walk in the middle of the side walk, away from alleyways and vestibules ►Avoid routine routes ►Walk in well-lit areas ►Avoid isolated areas, parks, parking lots ►Avoid shortcuts that may expose you to danger ►Avoid flashy clothes and jewelry that might attract unwanted attention ►Dress so you can walk or run easily to avoid an attack ►Carry only what you need ►Carry a wallet in your front or inside pocket. A purse should be close to your body ►Walk the most direct route ►If followed or threatened by someone-scream or use a personal alarm, cross the street and run in the opposite direction ►Walk where there are lots of people ►Always walk facing traffic ► If a stranger wants to talk…“I’m meeting someone” and keep on walking

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Suspicious Person►Look at the person, make eye contact. It shows you won’t be taken by surprise ►People covering their faces or appear to be hiding something should raise a flag ►Watch what they are doing ►If it doesn’t feel right, Follow your instincts and do something to avoid a situation

Conclusion ► Goals –Escape safely and survive ►No perfect defense system ►Must put odds in your favor-avoid “bad” situations, and look to see who’s watching you ►Have a plan 1. If this should happen, I will do……. ► “Failing to plan … is a plan to fail

Responding to an Attack ►Evaluate the situation ►Try to remain as calm as possible ►Stay Alert

-Listen and observe so you can make the best decision now and provide important information later ►Remember –in an attack -your goals are Escape and Survival ►Keep in mind as you decide to react because this s the most important consideration

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►If valuables are what the attacker wants, give them up. Valuables can be replaced, your life can’t ►Decide how to respond ►Only you can decide the best response to an emergency ►Screaming, hitting, biting may help you escape but may also expose you to danger ►Do whatever comes naturally and do it immediately ►The following strategies may be effective in confrontations

1. Non resistance 2. Stalling for time 3. Distracting or diverting the assailant and fleeing

After an attack or incident ►Cooperate with the local Police department ►Be a good witness

-Try to make mental notes such as hair color, height, weight, clothing description, facial hair, direction of travel, vehicles, when and where it occurred, voice, limps, scars, tattoos and any other thing that can help police during the investigation ►Be available to police ►Assist in prosecuting the criminal ►Report all crime even if it is only an attempt ►Crime can’t be controlled or prevented if it is not reported ►By reporting crimes and suspicious activity, you can protect yourself and others

Salient Summary

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By being aware of your surroundings and preparing yourself to act, you can reduce the chances of becoming a victim of a crime.

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