You could be a young woman out on her own for the first time or a woman who is newly divorced, the single mom, or the older woman who is retired and doesn’t have a husband.
There are so many women out there venturing life with lots of family around her, but resides by herself. If that is you….then this article is for you.
Sadly, there are shady people out there who don’t care if they bankrupt you and leave you homeless. Here are some tips to keep yourself safe when you don’t have someone always there to look out for you.
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1. Don’t Leave Registration & Insurance Cards In Your Vehicle
Many of us take vacations and drive hours to the airport, and leaving our cars in those overnight or long term parking lots is one of the only options we have. For the most part, they are safe. Although you can take one additional measure when leaving your car unattended for a long period of time. Even though you may remove most or all your contents from your car, most people still leave valuable information in the glove department. Thieves can locate the car’s registration in the glove compartment, where they can then drive the car to the people’s home and rob it. If you are going to leave the car in any long-term parking, don’t leave the registration/insurance cards in it, or your remote garage door opener.
2. Don’t Have Your Home Address In Your GPS.
Here is a true account- Someone had their car broken into while they were at a football game. Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard. When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen. The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house. Do you have your “HOME” listed in GPS? They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry to the house. The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house. It would appear that they had brought a truck to empty the house of its contents.
Something to consider if you have a GPS – don’t put your home address in it. Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know where you live if your GPS were stolen.
3. Don’t Use Telling Names on Your Cell Phones
Change your habit of listing “mom and dad“, or “hubby” in the directory of your phone. A woman’s handbag was stolen which contained her cell phone, credit card and wallet. 20 minutes later when she called her husband from a pay phone telling him what had happened, her husband said ……. ‘I received your text asking about our Pin number and I’ve replied a little while ago.‘ When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text ‘hubby’ in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account. Don’t let this happen to you. Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc…. Be sensitive when info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back.
4. Manually Lock Your Car Door.
Copied From Facebook
“I locked my car. As I walked away I heard my car door unlock. I went back and locked my car again three times. Each time, as soon as I started to walk away, I would hear it unlock again!! Naturally alarmed, I looked around and there were two guys sitting in a car in the fire lane next to the store. They were obviously watching me intently, and there was no doubt they were somehow involved in this very weird situation . I quickly chucked the errand I was on, jumped in my car and sped away. I went straight to the police station, told them what had happened, and found out I was part of a new, and very successful, scheme being used to gain entry into cars. Two weeks later, my friend’s son had a similar happening….
While traveling, my friend’s son stopped at a roadside rest to use the bathroom. When he came out to his car less than 4-5 minutes later, someone had gotten into his car and stolen his cell phone, laptop computer, GPS navigator, briefcase…..you name it. He called the police and since there were no signs of his car being broken into, the police told him he had been a victim of the latest robbery tactic — there is a device that robbers are using now to clone your security code when you lock your doors on your car using your key-chain locking device..
They sit a distance away and watch for their next victim. They know you are going inside of the store, restaurant, or bathroom and that they now have a few minutes to steal and run. The police officer said to manually lock your car door-by hitting the lock button inside the car — that way if there is someone sitting in a parking lot watching for their next victim, it will not be you.
When you hit the lock button on your car upon exiting, it does not send the security code, but if you walk away and use the door lock on your key chain, it sends the code through the airwaves where it can be instantly stolen”
Consider getting into the habit of manually locking your door. Robbers out there are getting smarter. If you have valuables in your car, and just run in to get your mail, your work laptop, phones and bags could be taken within moments.
5. Beware Of Companies Who Are Phoning YOU And Asking For Info
Companies don’t phone you to get updates on your data, they already have it. You phone them, not the other way around. These scams are hitting many communities hard. They are individuals from overseas who are trying to pry information from you.
911 Scams – “Authorities say that the scam begins when consumers receive a phone call that displays “911” on their caller ID. When the victim answers the call, consumers are told that a warrant will be issued for their arrest or a lawsuit will be filed against them unless they contact the Attorney General’s Office immediately using a number provided by the caller. In reality, the calls are not coming from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office or from 911 dispatchers.
“This appears to be a phone scam designed to scare consumers into providing money or personal information,” Attorney General DeWine said. “If you receive one of these calls, don’t respond to it and don’t dial the number the caller provides. Instead, hang up and report the call to my office.” wfmj.com
Avoid Phone Scams | Cybercriminal Tech … – Microsoft
‘Imposter’ Tax Scam Worse Than Ever, Congress Holds
‘One Ring’ Wireless Phone Scam | FCC.gov
Beware! Listen in on this tax-scam phone call – CNBC.com
Verizon | Fraud and Scam Alerts
Don’t Return Calls From These Area Codes — It’s A Scam
6. Trade In Your Luxury Cars For Something More Modest
According to Forbes, what you drive may be doing your advertising for you “A female in a Lexus RX 350 sport-utility vehicle is most likely a college-educated professional who is married with children. But the woman driving a Jaguar XF is a lover of luxury who is just as likely to be single or married” Any woman, no matter how much money you have, needs to be on the conservative side for the hard times ahead. It takes just a few moments for you to catch the eye of someone who is looking to rob you, and follow you back home or to a mall parking lot. Going forward, many people are trading in their flashy cars so they don’t draw attention to themselves as targets.
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7. When Traveling Alone Remain Confident
You will want to come across as confidently as possible while you are traveling in an new area. This is one of the most important ways that you can seem less vulnerable and ward off people who have the wrong intentions. One of the ways you can do this is by memorizing your trip beforehand rather than looking at your map on the way. A woman who stands tall even in a fearful situation will be less of a target than one who appears afraid. If you are on the metro, and are one of the last people riding at night, don’t appear afraid. Walk fast, and remove yourself quickly from vulnerable situations.
Don’t be afraid to tell someone to BACK OFF.
As women we tend to be too kind. We don’t want to impose on people, OR OFFEND them. If someone is invading in on your space…tell them to back off. If someone is too close to you while using the ATM, turn around and tell them to back up. “PLEASE back up”. If someone is following you too closely while walking. Stop and let them pass. If someone is harassing you on facebook, or through email…say… “I don’t know who you are, goodbye…I am taking you off my friends list” If you need to be rude, do it. You can be a kind person, but you can also be a smart women that WILL NOT allow anyone to step on her. These days, you need to make it very clear, especially to men where your head is at, and be assertive when doing so.
Visit New Places During the Daytime
You don’t want to be stranded in a strange place at night. You will be more vulnerable to people who wish to harm you, if you are asking for directions. Try to find new places during the daytime. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy venturing out at night. However, you will want to make sure you understand the area well enough to get back safely and know which areas to avoid. When you do go out at night, go with several girlfriends, and have the rule that every gal who comes with you, comes back home with you. No girlfriend should be leaving with a guy she just met for the first time.
Avoid Drawing Attention to Yourself
Single women should always be careful about drawing attention to themselves while they are traveling alone, or when they are out with their friends. Gosh, I wish I knew this when I was 20. The fact is, your too-tight-clothing does catch the eye of men who assume that you are easy. Do you really want to attract the wrong men? You will want to be careful wearing large, flashy jewelry or provocative clothing. You will fit in with the locals better if you dress more conservatively. In Italy, it is said that a smile from a woman does mean more to men.
8. Be Sure Your Paid Gas Is Being Pumped Into Your Car
In Santa Rosa, there is a new scam going on where people move the gas pump lines to the other side of the pump terminal. You drive in, use your card, put the nozzle gas line (the wrong one) into your tank and watch the money on the terminal. What you don’t know is the gas is being put into another persons tank on the opposite side, and before you know it, they drive off….with the gas. See the video here
9. Avoid Paying Cash For Your Hotel Room
You arrive at the hotel. You stand at the desk to check in, and they ask you to give a form of payment like a credit card or a debit card so if you trash the room, they can recoup their loss. Been there?
The next day you decide at checkout and instead of paying for that room with the credit card,……you decide to pay with cash instead of plastic. So you settle up and they give you a receipt and you go. You hope that you didn’t trash that receipt. The problem comes if there’s a dishonest individual working behind the desk. They may still charge your room to your card * AND * pocket the cash. If you get back from your vacation much later on and call up and they say, “Sorry, it was a clerical error.” But what if you didn’t keep that receipt or they didn’t give you one showing you paid cash? YOU lose!!! The lesson, always pay with a credit card.
10. Don’t Be Overly Open With People While Traveling
You need to be careful about what information you share with other people. Here is some information you want to be careful about sharing with people.
What you do for a living, how much money you are traveling with, that nobody is expecting you while traveling. Where you live, what you do for a living, how much money you make, how little family you have to rely on.
Always be cautious about what you tell people until you are sure that you can trust them. You should follow this advice whether you are talking to a man or another woman. Many women feel safer with their peers when traveling, but they can be just as likely to lead you into a dangerous situation if you aren’t careful. This goes for on facebook and any other social media site.
These tips come from Forbes Magazine
- Carry a rubber doorstop to wedge from the inside of your room at night.
- Carry a safety whistle (also keeps the monkeys at bay).
- Pay a bit more to stay at a central hostel or guesthouse in a well-lit area of town, with a 24-hour front desk.
- Watch your drink and certainly not getting drunk, especially if you’re alone.
- Err on the side of dressing conservatively. I don’t want to get into a “but it’s an issue of men’s perceptions of women” debate because the reality remains that when you’re traveling, you do need to err on the side of dressing conservatively.
- Be vague about your hostel/guesthouse. Sometimes a casual conversation will lead to a question about what hostel you are at, or where you are headed next. It’s wise to stay purposefully vague, or have a (faux) backup hostel or guesthouse in mind for those situations. This applies, of course, to men as well.
- Be aware that eye contact in some countries can invite aggressive behavior. Again, it’s not the message I’d like to put out (as in, I wish this wasn’t something we had to worry about) but it can be the case.
- If you are traveling in a country for more than a few days, register with your local embassy. I’ve done so here for Canada, as have my American and Australian friends in town. Most consular services do include registration for citizens abroad, and it is very helpful in the event of emergency (or even natural disasters).
11. Be Careful With Alcohol and Drugs
Many people enjoy visiting nightlife where you can enjoy a few glasses of wine. When you are drinking you are more vulnerable to telling people that you may life alone, that you don’t have family close, how much money you have, or valuables you have in your home. We tend to spill our secrets when we get a few drinks in us. Many predators will try to rob you while you are intoxicated, or have motives to take advantage of you in some way. Single women are also at risk of being sexually assaulted.
Some men might even lace you with marijuana with LSD or other substances to better take advantage of a woman sexually.
Here are a couple tips to keep in mind:
Have The Rule Who Comes With You, Goes Home With You– My mother gave me this advice when I was in my 20’s. Whether you are going out to dinner, going to the stampede, out for a movie, or going to a lounge for the night with your girlfriends, make sure they know this rule, and cannot for any means break it. You come together and go home together. 3 to 5 girlfriends is a good number to go out with.
Let Your Girlfriends Talk To The Guy Your Interested In– Engage your friends in conversation with any man you consider phoning at a later date, so that they can formulate an opinion whether you should give out your number. You can trust your girlfriends opinion.
The Chances Of Finding Your Future Husband At The Bar Is Slim – While some people report finding their future husband at the bar, and make successful, long-term relationships, the reality is that this is a rare phenomenon.
Never EVER Leave Your Drink Unattended– A ‘date rape’ drug can be easily slipped into a glass. When returning from the dance floor or restroom, get a new drink from the bartender. Make sure you realize these risks before using any type of substance. Many men go to bars to find easy women, and the real shady guys will try anything to get you out the door and into their car.
In the Kitchen
- Kitchen utensils: Knives, forks, pots, pans and skillets can be used as protection.
- Under the sink: Grab wasp or hornet spray because it shoots up to 20 feet and can easily blind a robber.
- Hot liquids: A hot cup of tea or pot of coffee can burn an assailant and you can follow that up by hitting him over the head with the mug or glass pot.
In the Bathroom
- Aerosol sprays: If you’re in a tight situation like a bathroom, grab a can of hairspray to spray right in the assailant’s eyes and make a quick getaway. This won’t keep him down long but might be just enough to get out of the house.
- Plunger: A plunger can act as a solid improvised club.
In the Bedroom
- If you want to skip the bullets and go for brute force, there is a bedside table that transforms into a bat and shield: the flat surface turns into a shield and the base, a bat. Be aware of the burglar’s weapon of choice, though, because if it’s a gun, a piece of wood might not protect from a bullet, but you might be able to whack the gun out of his hand in a sneak attack.
In the Laundry Room
- If this is where you keep your fire extinguisher, this is the place to go. The fog can throw an intruder off as he is not familiar with your house and could get turned around. Plus the force of the spray will most likely startle him and send him on his way. And, once it blinds him and the area becomes slippery, use the heavy tank as an instrument to strike the head.
Keep pepper spray handy, get a stun gun and teach your kids of any age that there are self-defense items surrounding them everywhere.
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13. Don’t Live Alone, Get A Roommate
In an economic down turn with so many people unemployed, don’t try to do things all on your own. Move in with several girlfriends who you can count on if your car has trouble, or you cannot make rent for one month. It is great to be able to have a network of people to swim the waters with month to month without having to rely on relatives or family for needs. When you live with girlfriends they also have discernment when you decide to introduce someone into your circle of friends.
Feel Safe at Home When Your Husband Or Roommates Are Away
Consider installing locks, not just latches on windows and sliding doors. A pivoting bar or piece of wood can stop a sliding glass door from being opened can be added for additional security. My mother recommends having an extra phone in the bedroom in case someone breaks in and you are sleeping. Have a cell phone or emergency phone within reach in case your phone cords are cut. Consider locking your garage doors while you are home alone. These doors can easily be lifted, so use the lock that is available on the inside to secure these doors while you are at home alone.
There are a number of features that you’ll find in various security systems from a simple alarm when a door is opened to real-time video camera monitoring. When doing the research to find the best home security system keep these features in mind :
- Door and window sensors that trigger an alarm when they are opened
- Wired systems that require running cables throughout the house, as well as wireless systems
- Smoke, fire and CO2 detectors
- Panic buttons, often in the form of a key fob, that allow one to trigger an alarm from anywhere in the house
- Medical alert buttons, also in the form of a key fob, that call 911 when someone is injured
- Motion sensors that trigger alarms
- Still camera and video camera options
- 24/7 monitoring
14. Get Paper Bank Accounts Statements In The Mail
I get it, …….you want to be environmentally friendly, but when it comes to your bank account, if you cannot prove what is in your account on paper, you may loose out. Paper statements help prove your balance in event of catastrophic attack.
Companies are trying to cut costs by getting you to turn off paper statements. While this may work with a large variety of businesses, don’t do this with your bank accounts.
With a paper statement in hand, it’s easier to prove that you had the money in the first place in the event funds go missing. If you are set up for electronic info only, well, chances are, they won’t replace the money you had in your account. Be safe than sorry.
15. Get Rid Of Your Doggie Door
A good idea is to set up a time with your neighbor and survy each others homes for entry points, you wouldn’t consider. When you stand back and look at your home, the weaknesses are pretty easy to find.
One gigantic open access point is a dog door. A common child, or a woman who is size 8 or under can fit through the door way. You can even reach up and unlock the door just with your arm. Think about your open access points. See this video on youtube that explains how the cat or dog door can easily allow someone entry into your home.
16. Security From Your Phone
The cost of DIY home security components has dropped, saving you hundreds of dollars over professionally installed systems. You can get all of the features in a wireless version, so you don’t have to clutter your house with cables. Here are a few systems that have been popular:
Iris- $39 On Amazon
The Iris system gives you a central hub or controller that plugs into your existing home network. This system comes with sensors for the doors or windows that detect when they have been opened or closed. A motion sensor that picks up on movement in the house. A programmable thermostat for automatically monitoring and controlling the heating and cooling in the home. A remote-controllable switch to control home appliances and lights, and a device to ensure a strong wireless signal throughout the house.
The controller uses its own wireless signal to connect with all of the devices. You can connect to the hub with any browsers, iOS or Android tablets, or smartphones using an app. From your web browser, smartphone or tablet, you can monitor your home and control lights and temperature and any other devices that will plug into the remote control system. Manufacturers are beginning to make Iris-compatible devices that will plug into your system and immediately be available.
Some of the advanced features and devices now available for the Iris system include:
- A senior monitor that can be worn as a pendant. When the owner pushes a button, the Iris system is notified, and messages can be sent to the owner or a service that will contact 911 for an ambulance dispatch to the location
- A live, wireless video camera is available with recording and motion detection capabilities
- An electronic deadbolt for your front door that can be monitored for tampering, or opened or closed remotely
DropCam From $195 On Amazon
This is one of the easiest video cameras you can install and operate. The DropCam can be installed anywhere it has access to a power outlet and your home network.
The installation requires you to connect the DropCam to your computer and software for configuration. Then, you can disconnect the DropCam and place it anywhere in the house. This camera comes with both audio and video. It is all accessible from any web browser, iOS device or Android device.
The audio has a two-way option, so you can actually talk to someone while watching and listening to them. The night vision option lets you see in low light conditions. You can set it up so that any motion or noise detected will alert you. For an extra fee, you can record the video for up to seven days.
Outdoor Dropcam Hacks – YouTube
Technology Outdoor Instructables
Belkin WeMo- From $42 On Amazon
As an entry into the smart home world, the Belkin WeMo offers a remote control switch for your lights. It plugs into your home network. You can access it from a web browser or iOS device. Turn devices on and off with your computer, which may be useful when you’ve gone out of town and want to maintain a presence like you are at home.
17. Keep Your Car Keys At Your Bedside
This is a fantastic tip for the mom who is home alone at nights or the single woman who gets off work late at night and has to walk to her car in the dark. If you own a car, chances are you already have a security alarm within your reach. Your car key has a panic button which will scare any intruder away. These panic buttons are so loud, they can sound a LOUD alarm in the country with neighbors far away. At night, noise travels long distances.
18. Buy Several Cans Of Wasp Spray Instead Of Pepper Spray
Instead of pepper spray, several dads suggested using Wasp Spray instead. Why? Wasp Spray has a 20ft range whereas pepper spray only has 5ft. Wasp spray has a straight shot spray rather than a general spray. Your target is more accurate. Wasp spray is flammable. You could spray a trail to the intruder outside, and start it on fire.
19. Turn OFF Your Location On Your Laptop And Cell Phone
When you are home alone, or out by yourself, you may not realize that geo-tagging that occurs on most popular apps and websites! It might be the difference between getting raped, robbed, killed or being able to fight off your attacker to the best of your ability.
How do I turn off the location feature that shows … – Facebook
How can I turn off my “location” settings for my … – Facebook
How to Turn Off Location on Facebook: 9 Steps (with Pictures)
How to Turn Off GPS on a Cell Phone | USA Today
How to Stop Your Smartphone from Constantly Tracking …
How to Stop Google and Other Services From Tracking Your
20. Don’t Post On Facebook When You Plan On Leaving Your Home
While many of us think this is common sense, (posting you are going to Hawaii for a week from Friday ) this happens quite regularly. Going further, do not post any information about your schedule such as “Working 10-8 today, gonna be a long day!” You just never know who is watching your profile, especially if you have it set up to a public profile. You don’t know anyone as well as your family, and chances are, lets be honest……….you have more than family on your profile.
21. Never Put Your Full Name On Your Mailbox
Your first initial and last name leaves the gender of the resident ambiguous. If you pick up your mail at the post office, consider carefully what you throw out in the recycle bin. You just never know who picks through that container after hours. Consider getting this identity blurring stamp which eliminates the need to shred everything. Who doesn’t donate magazines to their local library?
22. If You Live Alone, Or With Women, Give The Impression That A Man Lives At Your Residence
If you have a front porch or walkway, stick an old pair of LARGE men’s boots by your door. You can pick some up for a few dollars at a local consignment shop. It may seem a bit over excessive… but why not give the impression that inside is big burly man that they wouldn’t want to mess with?
25,000,000 V Mini Stun Gun $10 On Amazon
23. Invest In Pepper Spray That You Can Stick In Your Purse
Most people don’t own guns, and that is especially true in Canada. Unless you know how to shoot a gun with accuracy, chances are you are not going to use one, or a knife for that matter when it comes right down to it. Consider purchasing pepper spray which allows you to incapacitate your attacker without physically interacting with them or needing to get close enough for them to be able to touch you. After spraying them, you could easily lock their hands to a post while you phone the police.
Door Stopper – Resists Over Two Tons of Force – $25 On Amazon
Master Lock Dual-Function Security Bar, Rugged 20-gauge steel construction to withstand more than 350 pounds of force – $20 On Amazon
Door Jammer- Portable Door Stop $23 On Amazon
Personal Security Door (And Window) Stop Alarm $9 On Amazon
24. Invest In Better Door Security
Get smarter about your door security. For as little as 15 dollars and under you can arm your door with something better than a chain or security lock on your door. Do not rely on it because they can be easily bypassed, and your doors can still be forced open. Have a deadbolt and a peephole. Keep your peephole covered with tape when not in use, as thieves can peer into your home and see what you have.
25. Never Buy Extended Warranties
Don’t even think about buying a warranty on appliances or electronics. Salespeople will tell you that an extended warranty “protects your investment.” But you need to know that a tv, washer or drier, dvd players, sewing machines are not investments. The only meaningful extended warranty is on a car, or a home. If you have the money to pay for a big repair on a car, then don’t buy a warranty. Only buy the car manufacturer’s own warranty, never a third-party auto warranty.
26. Lock Your Doors And Keep Your Windows Up When Driving.
Did you know that most car-jackings take place when vehicles are stopped at intersections? Criminals approach cars at a 45-degree angle, in the blind spot where they then either pull you out of the driver’s seat or jump in the passenger’s seat. When at a stop light at night, don’t engage with people in the car next to you. What is stopping them from following you home?
You Are Confronted By An Attacker, Never EVER Leave The Area
You are suddenly confronted by a predator who demands that you go with him. Maybe he tries to force you into a car, an alley or building. You must never leave with him, as you are far more likely to be killed or seriously injured. Run away, yell with everything you got for help, throw a rock through a store or car window–do whatever you can to attract attention. And if the criminal is after your purse or other material items, throw them one way while you run the other. Yell for “fire” as people are more willing to come to help than if you scream “help”
27. Have A Plan For You And Your Kids
Roll play what to do if there is an emergency with your kids. Do you have a place to go if something happens? Do your kids know where that place is? A rally point is a great place to start. Walk there and ask your kids where this location is often. Have a set of emergency numbers handy where your children can access them. Have a plan for what you will do if someone tries to enter your home while you’re there.
28. Get A Dog And Dog Signage
Dogs can be a great alert system. If you don’t have a dog, get “beware, large dog” signs that you can post on the property. So many times when people have walked on to our property, they have asked us if our dog is tied up. These signs do get noticed!
29. Don’t Get Suckered Into Paying For Damage You Didn’t Do To A Rental Car
If you are like me, you use rental cars once or twice a year. When you are inspecting the car, use your phone and record a short video WHILE you are walking around inspecting the car. This way, if the company says there is a dent, you can review the video, and have proof of the shape the car was in when you returned it.
30. Do Not Give Your Entire Set of Keys To The Car Mechanic Or Valet
If you have your car fixed, give them the one key, not your entire set of keys. If you often use valets, consider getting a valet key chain, where you can easily disconnect your car keys from your home keys. Do not leave your house and other important keys with attendants at public parking lots. Your house key can be quickly duplicated and your address obtained from your plate number.
31. If You Plan On Leaving Your House For The Weekend, Make It Appear Like You Are Home
Give the impression that you are home by leaving hallway lights on, a radio on or the tv going. Invest in some motion sensor lights outside. The Fake TV Burglar Deterrent makes the home look occupied and deters burglars.
Don’t Hide Keys Outside – Hiding keys inside the door, under mats, flowerpots or under rocks are easy finds especially if people have the time to look around your property. If you want extra keys nearby, leave one with a trusted neighbor.
32. Always Check References Of People Who Are Working On Your House
People many seem quite nice to your face, but have entirely different morals than yourself. Maids, cleaning women, dog walkers and anyone else who may be coming into your home will get an eye view of what your home looks like. Cleaning people get access to your bedroom, and other areas of your home that the normal person who visits you may not see.
33. When Selling On Craigslist, or Facebook Buy And Sell Groups, Meet In Town
We used to sell goods on craigslist, and countless people would come over to our home. Even though this was a rental, we stopped this when we moved into our new home. People take a good look at your property, or the inside of your house and it makes an impression. If tough times were to hit, they may feel comfortable approaching a property they have been on, than one they have never ventured on to. Sell in town in a public place out in the open. Many people testify that they go to see a car for sale, have the money in hand, and are robbed. Do major purchases with another person, and be sure to do it around other people. Don’t meet someone at their house to purchase a car, or diamond ring. That is just foolish. Being a woman, bring someone with you if you plan on going to someone else’s home. I remember once I had a buyer for a dresser I was selling come over to my home in the middle of the day. He had a look around my home. He just started venturing into areas of my home without my permission. It was uncomfortable. The worst part of it, was my front door was closed. He left and was harmless, but I pondered on this later on. The door could have been shut, and he could have raped me, with my screams going unnoticed. I was so silly! Don’t let this happen to you. Sell outside your home… move your pieces outside if you can, and have another person with you when you sell. Better yet, sell in town, than at your home.
34. Don’t Sit In Your Car On Your Lunch Break
So many women just sit in their car on their lunch break, or after shopping or working and look over their cheque books or online bank accounts. They make lists while looking down. This can be an easy target for someone to surprise you by opening your door and forcing you out.
35. Always Take The Elevator When Alone Instead Of The Stairs
Stairwells are horrible places to be alone, because you can be corned so easily. Avoid the stairwell, and use the elevator when you are unsure of a location. Remember, many attacks are preceded by one of these three questions: ‘May I use your phone?’, ‘What time is it?’ and ‘Do you know how to get to…?’ When I was a manager of a apartment complex, someone had reported a homeless man living at the bottom of the stairwell. After checking it out, this man not only occupied the stairwell, but the opened furnace room as well. Thankfully the single women in the complex were never confronted.
36. Keep Your Distance Between Strangers While Walking Home
So many people walk home at night from the metro stations, and it is not a good idea. Always keep your distance when walking past strangers on the street or in dark areas.
My husband would walk home from the metro every day and he recalled two events that could have turned out badly.
He found himself on the metro, with only 2 or 3 other people late at night. He got off the metro, and noticed one guy talking on the phone looking at him. He noticed this, so when the train stopped, he ran up the stairs onto the main street, and noticed another guy on the phone. They seemed upset that he was too quick getting off the metro. There are people out there who take advantage of others and work in teams to do so. Possibly these two guys worked together, signaling to each other when an area is cleared out.
Another time he was walking alone on the way home, and noticed a guy crossing the street coming right at him. He sped up and almost ran home. He may have felt embarrassed doing so, but looking back, the man was agitated, meaning his gut instinct was correct. He could have been robbed.
Don’t put yourself in the position where you are walking alone at night. If you are walking alone in the dark or in a lonely area, and you find someone stalking you, scream ‘fire‘ and not ‘help‘. People don’t want to get involved when people yell ‘help‘ but ‘fire’ draws attention because people are nosy. Then, run!
37. Identify Obsessive Men, And Avoid Them
There are men out there with control issues. They are emotionally unstable. Once you meet them, it can be hard to remove them from your life. Every stalker’s motive is unique. There are a few general categories that a stalker may fall into. However, you need to be careful when making assumptions about these men, because they may not apply to every guy out there.
The Infatuated Man– These men have a romantic interest, and often believe that YOU are interested in them as well. They usually believe that they can have a caring relationship with you and initially don’t wish you harm. However, they can become dangerous when they finally realize that you don’t share their feelings or they believe someone else is trying to take their place.
The Predatory Type -Predatory stalkers intend to cause direct harm to their victims. For this reason, they are the most likely to turn violent. They rarely try to speak with their victim directly. They are also less likely to respond to restraining orders or other sanctions.
Vengeful Men- This stalker believes that their victim has wronged them in some way. That belief may or may not be based on fact, but their perception is usually skewed by mental illness or a personality disorder. They often suffer from paranoid delusions and become increasingly unstable over time. The vengeful stalker is the most likely to be deterred by a restraining order if they are identified early on. However, their persecutory delusions become increasingly intense and their behavior more erratic over time. They may be become very dangerous and violent if they are not stopped early enough.
Common Features of Stalkers
There are many different types of stalkers, but there are a few characteristics that are common across all stalker types. Most stalkers meet at least a few of the following characteristics. They tend to be Narcissistic, meaning they have an excessive or erotic interest in themselves and their physical appearance. They often have poor self-esteem, poor social skills and often are paranoid. They come across very controlling. Does he phone you and ask where you have been, why you didn’t call, or email? Does he have any right to know every detail of your day? While not all stalkers may not possess all of these characteristics, but it is important to understand how the sort of person who resorts to obsessing over women that leads to stalking operates. Avoid these types.
38. Avoid Using ATM’s At Night
Have you been there? Your at the ATM being as quick as possible, and someone approaches waiting for their turn. They look innocent, so you tell yourself. You get your money and you are off. Who is to say there isn’t someone across the street watching and targeting people who are using the ATM late into the hours? It is best to get the cash you need in the day when the bank is open. Why risk having your card taken, or being held at gunpoint to force you to empty your bank account?
39. Never Ever Let A Date Pick You Up From Your Home
When making plans to go out for the first COUPLE OF TIMES, meet your date at a public place. Never ever let them know where you live, especially if you have kids. Let someone know whom you are meeting and where you are going.
While dating online, do not, under any circumstance, reveal any personally identifiable information in your profile or your private e-mails. Use only the communication tools provided by your dating service or chat rooms.
On another note, consider removing most pictures of your children on facebook. Even friends and family share pictures of YOUR baby or little toddler. These pictures then get saved and surface on other websites. I came across one friend on facebook who discovered pictures of her son on a sick pedifile site, where they post profiles of babies, and talk in baby language. Getting those pictures back is next to impossible. As much as we want to have a presence on facebook… I have removed most of my photos, because scams are more frequent today. I wouldn’t want someone using my pictures to set up profiles to scam other people. Think about this for yourself.
40. Never Ever Give Your Social Security Number Unless You REALLY Have To.
It seems like more companies are asking for your SIN number. Why do they need it? It seems like hospitals, medical clinics, labs are all asking for your SIN number these days. Just leave it blank. You don’t have to give it out. Avoid giving your SIN number to colleges or universities, or the banking industry. Unless you really have to, you really don’t know how your number may be passed around or what their level of security is. Do they REALLY take the extra measures of installing a security system at your local massage therapy, or facial spa?
What can thieves do with a medical file? Chances are you have listed your date of birth, your home address, and have access to a digital image of your driver’s license. With those pieces of information, they could be creating false identities to apply for credit accounts. When you go to a medical clinic, don’t give your SIN number, and consider giving another form of picture ID, than your drivers license.
Additional Tips From thesurvivalistblog.net
– View Your Home From The Outside “It is a good idea to take a close look at your home from a view point of how easy it would be for someone to gain entry. I think it is a good idea to make it so people have no way of knowing when your home, cover garage windows”
– Get Additional Security On Your Doors – “You’d be surprised how easy the average door is to kick open, get some safety bars or other such gismos to make it nearly impossible without a ramming bar from a swat team. They don’t cost all that much and are easy to install. Use long screws and make sure you’re attaching to the framing studs and not just the trim.”