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Personal Safety

“PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS”

Prevention is the key to your personal safety .

Prevention means being aware of two things .

1. What can happen to you .

2. What you can do to avoid it .

Greater safety lies not in getting out of trouble but in avoiding trouble in the first place.  Self protection means taking all necessary precautions in order to reduce, minimize, or possibly eliminate your chances of being the victim of a crime.

1. WHAT TO DO AT HOME

	WOMEN WHO LIVE ALONE SHOULD LIST ONLY THEIR LAST NAMES AND INITIALS IN PHONE DIRECTORIES AND ON MAILBOXES.
	THE BEST LOCK CANNOT FUNCTION IF YOU FAIL TO LOCK IT.  Be sure you lock your doors during the day, even if you are home, and even if you leave for a few minutes, (to walk the dog, get the mail, etc.).
	NEVER OPEN THE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY AFTER A KNOCK.  Require the caller to identify themselves satisfactorily; this includes repairmen, delivery men, and Police Officers, as well.  Utilize chain bolt when checking identification.
	LIGHTING IS VERY IMPORTANT.  Inside and outside lights give you a great deal of protection. PROWLERS PREFER THE DARK.  Leave lights on at night, even when away from home.  Change location of lights from time to time.
	LEAVE A LIGHT ON THE DOOR YOU WILL BE USING WHEN YOU RETURN HOME AFTER DARK. (USE TIMERS).  Have your key ready so that the door can be opened immediately.
	WHEN A STRANGER ASKS TO USE YOUR PHONE, DO NOT PERMIT THEM TO ENTER.  Offer to summon emergency assistance or make the call for them.
	IF A WINDOW OR DOOR HAS BEEN FORCED OR BROKEN WHILE YOU WERE AWAY, DO NOT ENTER OR CALL OUT.  Silently leave and use a cell phone or neighbor’s phone immediately to CALL POLICE. WAIT OUTSIDE until they arrive.

2. WHAT TO DO WHEN DRIVING

	WHEN PRACTICABLE, TRAVEL WELL LIGHTED MORE POPULATED STREETS AND THOROUGHFARES.  KEEP WINDOWS CLOSED AND DOORS LOCKED.
	DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PURSE ON THE SEAT.  Put it in a glove compartment or on the floor opposite yourself.  Your purse can lure a criminal to your car.
	KEEP YOUR CAR IN GEAR WHEN HALTED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS.  IF YOUR SAFETY IS THREATENED, HOLD DOWN ON THE HORN AND DRIVE AWAY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
	CHECK YOUR REAR VIEW MIRROR.  If you believe you are being followed by another car,  DO NOT DRIVE INTO YOUR DRIVEWAY OR PARK ON A DESERTED STREET.  Pull over to the curb at a spot where there are people, and let the car pass you.  If the car continues to follow you, drive to the nearest place where you can get help, (Gas Station, Police Station, Fire House etc.).
	IF YOU ARE FOLLOWED INTO YOUR DRIVEWAY AT NIGHT, stay in your car with the doors locked until you can identify the occupants or know the driver’s intent.  SOUND HORN TO GET THE ATTENTION OF NEIGHBORS OR SCARE THE OTHER DRIVER OFF.
	WHEN PARKING AT NIGHT SELECT A PLACE THAT WILL BE WELL LIGHTED WHEN YOU RETURN.  Check for LOITERERS before leaving the car.
	NEVER LEAVE THE CAR KEYS IN THE IGNITION EVEN IF YOU ONLY PARK FOR A SHORT TIME.  Take them with you, and MAKE SURE THE CAR IS LOCKED.
	DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION IN YOUR CAR.  Including Registration, License, Insurance papers, and mail. If your car is stolen, the thief will know where you live (and if you left the keys in the car, a way to get in!).
	WHEN RETURNING TO YOUR CAR, CHECK THE INTERIOR BEFORE YOU ENTER.  If you do not have a remote keyless door locking/unlocking system which turns on the interior lights, open the door slightly to turn on the interior lights and look inside. Check front and rear areas.

3. WHAT TO DO WHEN WALKING

	Look around to see whether you are being followed.  If someone suspicious is behind you, or ahead of you, cross the street, and if necessary crisscross from one side to another, back and forth. If you feel you are being followed, don’t be afraid to run.  One of the CRIMINAL’S GREATEST ASSETS IS THEIR ABILITY TO SURPRISE YOU, to attack when you least expect it, by suddenly leaping out and not giving you a chance to fight back.  Should the person continue to follow you, BE PREPARED TO DEFEND YOURSELF BY: SCREAMING AND RUNNING, to a lighted residence or business, or possibly to flag down a passing car.
	IF A CAR APPROACHES YOU AND YOU ARE THREATENED, SCREAM AND RUN IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE THAT OF THE CAR.  The driver will have to turn around to pursue you.
	MAINTAIN A SECURE GRIP ON YOUR PURSE.  Walk near the curb and avoid passing close to shrubbery, dark doorways and other places of concealment.  SHUN SHORTCUTS, especially through backyards, school yards, parking lots and alleyways.
	HAVE YOUR KEY READY IN HAND, so your house door can be opened immediately.  When arriving by taxi or private auto, request the driver to wait until you are inside.
	BE SURE TO KNOW THE AREA YOU ARE WALKING IN.  Know what stores, restaurants, or gas stations are open late in the evening.  If there are none of these watch for homes with lights on.  IF AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO ATTACK YOU, RUN TO THOSE PLACES AND CREATE AS MUCH COMMOTION AS POSSIBLE.  Create commotion by SCREAMING AS LOUD AND AS LONG AS YOU CAN.  It will call attention to your predicament and someone may call POLICE or it may frighten the would be attacker.  YELLING FIRE WILL ALSO ALERT SOMEONE!
	THE WAY IN WHICH YOU CARRY YOUR PURSE LARGELY DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE CHOSEN TO BECOME A VICTIM OF A PURSE-SNATCHER. Do not carry your purse by the handle, or place your arm through the strap and let it hang.  Place one end of the purse in the palm of the hand and the other in the bend of the elbow. Draw it close to your body.  Hang on to it firmly.  The rule to remember is “Carry as much money in your purse as you can afford to lose.” When possible, hide the bulk of your money on your person. When using a cart while shopping, keep the purse closed and tie the purse's strap to the cart, so it cannot be lifted easily or without snagging the cart causing noise or a commotion.

4. WHAT TO DO WHEN IN AN ELEVATOR

	IF YOU LIVE IN AN APARTMENT WHERE YOU KNOW THE OTHER RESIDENTS AND YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE LOBBY WITH A STRANGER, YOU CAN LET HIM TAKE THE ELEVATOR AND WAIT FOR IT TO RETURN FOR YOU.  If you are on the elevator and someone gets on whose presence makes you uneasy, get off at the next floor.  ALWAYS STAND NEAR THE CONTROL PANEL; if attacked hit the alarm button and press as many of the other buttons as you can reach with your arm or elbow, enabling the door to open at any of several floors.
	NEVER PROVOKE AN ATTACK.  If it is apparent that it is only your money at stake, give it up. Try to remember what the perpetrator looked like and give as accurate a description as you can to the police.  It is impossible to advise you specifically as to what to do if attacked, because only a person under attack is qualified to make this decision.  THE BEST WAY TO AVOID PANIC IS TO BE PREPARED.
	PANIC PARALYZES YOU.  IF YOU ARE PREPARED TO MEET THE EMERGENCY OF POSSIBLE ATTACK, you are more likely to run (when that is the safest procedure) than if you are totally unprepared.  PANIC PREVENTS US FROM SEEING THE POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.  Prevention procedures minimize the danger of physical attack. TAKE PRECAUTION, DEVELOP SAFETY HABITS.  DON’T FORGET -- THE BEST DEFENSE IS PREVENTION.

REMEMBER!

PREVENTION IS THE KEY TO YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY

PREVENTION MEANS BEING AWARE OF TWO THINGS:

1. WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU.

2. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO AVOID IT.

“Personal Safety Tips” has been developed by the Orangetown Police Department Community Policing / Crime Prevention Unit with the belief that by following the suggestions as mentioned, your chances of becoming the victim of a crime will be greatly reduced.