Crime can happen at any given time and in any given place. The one thing about crime is that it does not discriminate. None of us are immune to it and if you think so your actually much more likely to fall victim. There are some key things you can do that will drastically reduce your chance of becoming a statistic.

The best and easiest way to avoid crime is to be alert and aware. Pay attention to your surroundings. If something doesn’t look or seem right it probably isn’t. Trust your instincts. Keep your head up; practice scanning an area with your eyes. This demonstrates awareness. Criminals focus on easy targets; by practicing awareness and simply being alert.

Whether it’s your commute to work, your route to the gym or trips to the grocery store, for the sake of personal safety change your routines regularly. Criminals love a victim who is predictable, so don’t be! We are creatures of habit; naturally most of us have our set routines and don’t really like change. Challenge yourself and family to mix up their routines at least bi-weekly. There is more than one way to get to work, more than one coffee shop or gas station. Simply put, add some variety to your routine and you increase your safety.

You want to make yourself a tough target but it is just as important to make your home unattractive to crime. Call your local police or sheriff’s department and ask them to conduct a safety survey of your home. Some of the most common findings are lack of light, no security system, and lack of sufficient entry way security. These are the types of things that criminals thrive on, but they are easy and affordable to correct. You can never have too much light in and around your home. Install floodlights with built in motion sensors all around the perimeter of your home. A home security system is an excellent idea. You can purchase a wired system and pay to have it monitored or you can choose a wireless home security system. Surprisingly the majority of home burglaries and invasions occur by way of a main entry point. Reinforce your entry doors with deadbolts and consider a door brace for added security.

Car-jacking is becoming more and more prevalent. Make sure you keep your doors and windows locked at all times and especially when at a traffic stop. Use the mirrors on your vehicle to scan for potential trouble. It is very important to give yourself plenty of room when stopped. Allow at least one and one half car lengths. Should you feel trouble is approaching sound your horn and flash your lights.

Education goes a long way in any environment. Be informed, take the time to educate yourself about crime trends and use that information to protect yourself. Most cities or towns have areas that are known to be high crime areas. Do your best to avoid these areas at all costs.

Get involved in your community by joining or starting an anti-crime program like neighborhood watch. The success of such programs is dependent on its members. Adopt a zero tolerance attitude, it is contagious.

Crime like many things in society is challenging and can be very scary at times. The most important thing you can do for yourself and community is to not give up. Don’t give in to crime, be persistent, proactive and consistent in your approach. Remember awareness is the key, be alert and take the steps necessary to maker yourself and your home tough targets. Educate your neighbors and adopt a positive, never give in attitude.

We get communication on a regular basis from women who allege that they are victims of domestic violence or abuse. Some call, others fax, but most send email looking for help protecting themselves from their attackers. Reports against husbands, boy friends, ex-lovers include physical and mental abuse.

Most recently we received an email from a young woman seeking self defense products for use against her boy friend. She went on to explain that when he drinks he is often violent. Pushing, punching and verbal abuse are the norm after the boy friend has too much alcohol. Other examples involve ex-husbands who can’t seem to move on. Instead they stalk and terrorize the woman they once loved.

Most, but not all victims of domestic violence are women and the abuse occurs for one main reason: the need to totally control them. The abusive party may use guilt, fear, intimidation, or shame to break you physically and emotionally.

Are you or someone you love involved in an abuse relationship? Do you:

• are you afraid of your partner most of the time
• during conversation do you avoid talking about certain topics because you are afraid to make them mad
• have a feeling that nothing you do is right for your significant other
• feel depressed, emotionally drained, and/or think you are going crazy

Does your partner:

The above are some common signs that you are involved in an abusive relationship. If this hits too close to home you need to get yourself the help you need immediately. Of course if you need help right away call 911. If you need to speak with a confidential professional for help and advice contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE).

If you are afraid for your physical safety consider purchasing a self defense device. Learn how it works and what to expect should you need to use it. Once you’ve chosen the personal security device that works best for you, it is now time to practice over and over again.

Pepper spray does no good at the bottom of your purse when needed. If you can get in the habit of carrying pepper spray with you everywhere and learning how to utilize it effectively, your “piece of mind” will grow dramatically. It really doesn’t matter what your defense weapon is, the key is being able to properly use. No matter what the product is, practice is essential to improving your overall safety and self defense.