Client: Steve Lane
Copyright 2008 Steve Lane
Crime Prevention: How to Protect Yourself and Others
The definition of crime prevention is:
� Awareness that a crime can occur
� Anticipation of how, where, when and to whom
� Action taken to reduce the likelihood of the crime happening
There are generally three conditions needed for a crime to take place. These are: ability, desire and opportunity. You have no control over the criminal's ability and desire. You do have the means to prevent opportunity, thus preventing the crime.
To remove or reduce the criminal's chance of opportunity, you need to use your instincts, your common sense and take action. You are the person most responsible for your own safety.
Learn the three basic rules of crime prevention:
� Be alert. Avoid distractions and focus on your surroundings.
� Appear confident. Stand tall, walk with purpose and make eye contact with the people around you.
� Listen to your instincts. Trust yourself. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, get out of it.
Protect Yourself:
Never assume that it won't happen to you. Be aware of your surroundings. Make yourself an undesirable target. The harder it would be to corner you, the less likely a criminal will try. If you are being followed, call 911 or go immediately to a crowded public place. Witnesses will scare a criminal away.
The question of whether or not to resist depends on your situation. If you fight back, you can deter the criminal from continuing. However, if the attacker is after your money, jewelry or car just let them have it. Material possessions are not as important as your life. If the criminal wants something small and valuable, give it to him/her but throw it away from you to give yourself a chance to get away. Also, do not resist if the criminal has a weapon.
During an Attack:
Crime prevention doesn't stop at avoiding the situation. If you find yourself being attacked, you need to keep your head and continue to prevent the situation from getting worse. Stay as calm as possible. Evaluate your situation every step of the way. You never know when an opportunity to get away will arise.
Protect Others:
Crime prevention doesn't stop at keeping yourself safe. Do your part to help keep others safe as well. You never know when they might be around to return the favor.
� Learn crime prevention techniques.
� Know the local officers and the location of the police station.
� Report any crime or suspicion of crime. Don't assume someone else already has.
� Keep apprised of the local crime problems and crime prevention measures being used.
� Work with neighbors and local law enforcement to keep everyone in your neighborhood educated and safe. Residents in better communities that work together as a whole tend to be safer from crime.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a crime, chances are that the details of the incident will remain with the victim long after it is over. Use your experience and encourage other victims to use their experiences to educate others in crime prevention. An educated community is a safe community.