Happy Holidays - December Newsletter
Happy Holidays!
With Thanksgiving behind us our Holiday focus now is about Christmas, family travel and of course Christmas shopping!
Unfortunately, the season brings an increase in crime. We are more stressed, more harried and in our familiar comfort zones (places we frequent, like our favorite shopping spots, malls and various stores). We have a tendency, in general, to drop our defenses and become less vigilant about our personal safety, because we feel “safer” in familiar surroundings. It’s important to remember most crimes occur within 1 mile of where we work, shop, live, go to eat out, to the gym, etc.
We’ve put together some helpful hints to help you remember to be a “Tough Target” this year.
So remember, be more vigilant, more cautious and more safety conscious this Holiday Season!
SAFETY TIPS:
When leaving a store or building, scan with your eyes (360 degrees) several times as you approach your vehicle. Is someone following you? Is someone lingering in the parking lot near or between you and your vehicle? Is your “gut” feeling telling you you’re being watched? Are you carrying too many bags or boxes? Do you have a safety strategy if you are grabbed by a stranger? Are you prepared to get into your vehicle quickly and safely?
ALWAYS:
Keep your pepper spray out, on and ready! Make it tough for the bad guys to take advantage. Most importantly, trust your intuition or “gut feeling,” and take action if you feel threatened.
By simply thinking and acting safer and allowing these behaviors to become habits, you WILL be safer.
From our Family to yours, have a wonderful, safe Holiday Season!
And, Merry Christmas from WSEG!
Sincerely,
Denise Bach
Director
© Copyright 2006 S.A.F.E. All rights reserved.
With Thanksgiving behind us our Holiday focus now is about Christmas, family travel and of course Christmas shopping!
Unfortunately, the season brings an increase in crime. We are more stressed, more harried and in our familiar comfort zones (places we frequent, like our favorite shopping spots, malls and various stores). We have a tendency, in general, to drop our defenses and become less vigilant about our personal safety, because we feel “safer” in familiar surroundings. It’s important to remember most crimes occur within 1 mile of where we work, shop, live, go to eat out, to the gym, etc.
We’ve put together some helpful hints to help you remember to be a “Tough Target” this year.
So remember, be more vigilant, more cautious and more safety conscious this Holiday Season!
SAFETY TIPS:
When leaving a store or building, scan with your eyes (360 degrees) several times as you approach your vehicle. Is someone following you? Is someone lingering in the parking lot near or between you and your vehicle? Is your “gut” feeling telling you you’re being watched? Are you carrying too many bags or boxes? Do you have a safety strategy if you are grabbed by a stranger? Are you prepared to get into your vehicle quickly and safely?
- Have your keys out and ready to unlock and enter your vehicle as quickly as possible.
- Don’t activate your keyless entry until you are close to your car.
- Load your vehicle quickly, pay attention and keep scanning for approaching strangers.
- Look in, under and around your car (and surrounding vehicles) for anything unusual or out of place. It’s a lot easier now for someone to hide or lie waiting under an SUV or pickup with the new higher ground clearances of vehicles.
- Don’t be shy about asking for a helping hand from a store employee to help you to your car and assist you in loading your purchases into it.
- For parents, ALWAYS, ALWAYS load your “stuff” first and your children last. Don’t allow a carjacking to turn into an abduction/kidnapping.
- Get in your car and IMMEDIATELY lock it! Call on your cell phone, set your radio or cd dial, fix your lipstick, or balance your checkbook AFTER locking your car.
- Be alert if your car is parked next to a van with a sliding side-door access.(It takes only 4 seconds to be grabbed and pulled into it).
- DO NOT talk on your cell phone between the building and your car or car and building. Your attention needs to be focused on your surroundings, not distracted by a cell phone conversation. Wait until you are either in a building (safe) or your locked car to use your cell phone.
- Lighten your purse and carry only what you need to shop. Better yet, eliminate your purse entirely and only carry your needed cash, identification, credit cards or check in a pocket or small concealable wallet or purse. Keeping your purse over your shoulder inside your coat is a safer way to carry it if you have to carry one.
- Leave any valuables (purse, packages, etc.) out of site and in your trunk or under a blanket or cover for SUV’s and vans.
- If you need money from an ATM, go into a bank, grocery store or someplace that is NOT isolated. Avoid/leave ATM’s that “feel” funny or unsafe. So you lose a few minutes going to another safer location.
- Keep your distance from panhandlers/beggars asking for money or whatever (people who represent organizations like the Salvation Army and such are in well-trafficked, lighted areas and clearly identifiable, NOT wondering around parking lots.)
- Be firm, using verbal self-defense commands to keep them at a safe distance.
- Be especially alert in stacked parking garages, avoid stairwells. Get and travel with others whenever possible and DO NOT allow yourself to become isolated. If you see someone you get a “bad feeling” about, go back into a store, wait to go back until it’s safe or ask a security guard or store employee to walk you to your vehicle.
Remember the four steps to staying safe:
- Be a tough target
- Don’t be alone in an isolated area
- If you feel threatened, attract attention by yelling “Fire!”
- Take action either by running away or fighting back
ALWAYS:
Keep your pepper spray out, on and ready! Make it tough for the bad guys to take advantage. Most importantly, trust your intuition or “gut feeling,” and take action if you feel threatened.
By simply thinking and acting safer and allowing these behaviors to become habits, you WILL be safer.
From our Family to yours, have a wonderful, safe Holiday Season!
And, Merry Christmas from WSEG!
Sincerely,
Denise Bach
Director
© Copyright 2006 S.A.F.E. All rights reserved.
