STAY SAFE: WHEN GOING TO YOUR CAR
- Have your key ready and always check the back seat so that you are sure no one is hiding – before you get in
- Be alert to the area around your car before you walk to it
- In parking lots: Is anyone walking behind you? Let them pass by while you are out in the open. Is anyone standing around or near your car? Watch and wait until the situation changes. Look under your car as you approach it.
- Do not walk directly to your car. If you are unsure, get a security person to see you safely to your car.
- Before you open the door, check the car next to you. Is there someone on your side of their car? Is their door ajar? Some criminals will open their door thereby blocking one way of escape. Often a second criminal will block the other route and trap their victims between the cars.
- Once you are inside your vehicle, immediately lock all of your doors and keep your windows rolled up
- Be aware of vans
- Consider keeping a cellular phone
- Keep your car in good condition and at least one fourth filled with gas. Check your tires and keep a spare. Learn how to change a tire quickly.
- Travel busy and well-lighted streets. Short cuts can spell trouble, especially if off a man road. Back streets deny you the benefit of being in the view of the general public.
- Keep your car in gear at traffic lights or stop signs. If you are threatened, blow your horn and drive away as fast as possible. Space your vehicle.
- Frequently check your rear view mirror. Do not turn into a driveway or stop in a deserted area if someone is tailing you. Pull over to the curb in a busy area and let the car pass. Attempt to get a license number and report it to the police. When you stop, avoid getting blocked in.
- If a car does follow you into the driveway, sound the horn until the car leaves or the driver is identified and his intentions are established.
- Do not stop to offer assistance to stalled cars. Some “breakdowns” are a ruse to find victims. Drive on and call police so help can be safely provided.
- If a car collides with your car, do not get out. Roll down the window only a little to communicate and have the other party send for the police. If they refuse or you have a bad feeling about the situation, write down the license number, drive away, and immediately call the police regarding your accident. Your safety is worth the inconvenience.
- If your car breaks down, get out, open the hood, get back inside and lock the doors. Keep your windows up and under no circumstances get out or unlock the doors for anyone. Helpful persons will not be offended by your safety consciousness. They will probably hope their loved ones are as conscientious in similar situations.
- If you must leave your car (as a last resort) write on a piece of paper the time you left, your destination and a description of anyone offering assistance. Leave it on the dashboard of your locked car.
- There is only one rule for hitchhikers – NEVER!
STAY SAFE: WHEN GETTING OUT OF YOUR CAR
- Survey the general area of the parking lot
- Park as close to doors as possible
- Beware if someone follows you into a store or to any door
- When you drive into your driveway, check your property and the surroundings of your house and garage
- As you pull into your garage, be certain no one is there or has a chance to slip in behind your car
- Have your keys ready before you get out
- If you carry any form of self-protection device, be certain you have ready access to it
- Even if you have to pay to park in a secure, well-lighted area, it’s worth every cent.
STAY SAFE: WHILE RIDING (BUSES, CABS, ELEVATORS, ETC.)
- Be alert to people when getting out of cabs or off buses
- Have the cab driver wait until you are safely in your destination before driving off
- Stay close to the operator on buses, trains, etc. It offers you more security
- Don’t be too quick to get on elevators, particularly if only one other person is there. Many violent crimes take place in the seclusion of elevators in large buildings and apartment complexes. If someone suspicious is in the elevator, wait until it returns. Don’t feel obligated to get on. If someone enters and makes you feel uneasy, press the next floor and get off.
- When riding self-service elevators, stand next to the control panel. You have better control and can hit the emergency alarm if necessary.