Have you been attacked? - Safety guidelines for women (Part 11)
published: Sunday | May 4, 2003
THE SAFESTstrategy in dealing with crime is to prevent it all together, but if you find yourself involved in one, Fitsec Security consultant, Bruce Barclay, advises the following tips: Always hand over what you have. You can get back your house, your car and other valuables, but you can never get back your life. A lot of women get shot because they insist on holding on to their car keys. Yes, you have worked hard for it, but it is just a material thing.
Be honest. If you have $10,000, do not tell the thief who has you cornered that you only have $2,000. When he searches your purse and finds more in it, he will lose trust and that bond which you will need to establish in order to begin negotiations will be lost. Dishonesty will result in slapping, kicking and cutting. Respect is important, psychologically. Do not lie.
Do not allow them to search if you can do it yourself. Turn out your bag yourself. Offer them whatever they want (money, car keys) quickly.
Keep a dummy purse in your bag with some money and with dummy IDs and credit cards. Give him the purse/billfold with the money and these false cards. Have a deception plan for your personal effects.
Do not leave the crime scene. Never get into a car with a thief. If you can, throw your bag or car keys at them, when they instruct you to get into the car and run. Never go where they will be in complete control of you.
If you are in a supermarket lot and you are approached by an attacker, and he or she demands your car keys, hand it to him immediately and find a way to escape.
At home or work, always have an escape option. Develop a safe room with a means of communication - one with a strong door lock and a cell phone with which you can call for help.
If you find that you are being followed, don't go straight home. Do not go to areas with which you are not familiar either. Go to the nearest police station or the nearest crowded place.
If you are bumped from behind, do not stop to check the damage. Drive to the nearest police station.
Invest in a personal or home alarm systems. There are many which are reasonably priced (under $10,000 each). Also, make sure to have a cellular phone when you are driving on the road in lonely areas or at nights.
Mark your possessions so that you can recover them if the police find them. The police station is flooded with items of jewellery which are unrecoverable because the owners cannot identify them as theirs. Photograph your valuables.
Additional crime prevention strategies
Scan your environment at all times, looking for anything which is suspicious. At nights, never exit your car without scanning your surroundings. If you observe anyone, take evasive action.
Do not stop to ask for directions in strange areas. Go to the nearest public building (police station, fire station, post office) and ask, instead.
Never stop at nights to fix punctures. It may cost you around $7,000 to replace your tyre and rim, but if you stop to change the tyre you may lose much more. Rim it home or to the nearest gas station.
Never leave your house keys (with the car keys on them) with your mechanic.
Do not keep your car key on the same bunch with your house keys. If the car is stolen and your house keys are with them, you will have to change all your house locks immediately.
When travelling
Provide your family and your office with your itinerary.
Be sure your travel documents are valid.
Use travellers cheques whenever feasible.
Use special clothing or money belts to safeguard your valuables.
Get security update or briefing for area, city, or country to be visited.
Dress casually. Do not wear excessive jewellery.
At airports, proceed through security into the more secure boarding areas as soon as possible.
Avoid rogue taxis. Ride only in fully licensed taxis.
Select a hotel on the third to fifth floor. They are less likely to be affected by street crimes, but can be reached by fire truck ladders.
Place all valuables in either a hotel safe deposit box or room safe.
Keep your room locked and dead-bolted. Know how to call hotel security or the police.
Know escape routes in case of fire or some other threat.
For more information on personal safety, e-mail fitsec2000@yahoo.com.
