| Many women live alone these days, in | | | | service call. |
| apartments, condos and their own homes. We | | | | If you have an answering machine on your land |
| have as much right to live as we please as any | | | | line phone don't include your name, just your |
| man. We shouldn't have to live any differently or | | | | number if you feel that is necessary. Don't state |
| take any special precautions, but, unfortunately, | | | | that you are not home, only that "we" can't come |
| we should. Self defense for women living alone is | | | | to the phone right now. I have seen the |
| a set of habits that can help keep us safe by | | | | suggestion that you have a male friend or relative |
| creating the illusion that we don't live alone and | | | | record the message- although that may also |
| avoidance tactics that make us difficult targets. | | | | deter potential dates. If you don't have it, get |
| If you are moving into an apartment building do | | | | caller ID. |
| not take an apartment on the lower level or the | | | | Lock your outside doors- this one should be an |
| ground floor. These floors offer the most | | | | easy habit to learn. Let's not make it easy for |
| opportunity for window break-ins. Likewise, if you | | | | these perps! If you live in an apartment building |
| live in a home, make sure the windows on the | | | | always lock the outside door, doors to common |
| lower floors are secure (locked from the inside- | | | | areas and of course the door to your residence. |
| curtains closed) and free of any outside visual | | | | Chain locks, while giving a secure feeling, are |
| obstruction, such as bushes and other landscaping | | | | actually easy to be broken with a shoulder or a |
| material, so it can be easily seen from the street | | | | kick. Deadbolts are great as long as they are |
| and neighbors. | | | | properly installed and locked. For added security a |
| Speaking of neighbors-get to know yours. You | | | | deadbolt can be installed on the backside (inside) |
| don't need to make them all your BFFs. You just | | | | of a door. It can only be locked from the inside |
| need to get familiar with them. You could all | | | | and can't be picked. For more information please |
| watch out for each other. They could also provide | | | | visit self defense for women/home security. |
| you with a safe haven if you found yourself in a | | | | This brings us to keys. Do not mark your keys |
| situation in which you didn't feel your own home | | | | with any ID. Have separate keys rings for your |
| was safe- someone was in your home-or you | | | | cars and home. Do not leave your garage door |
| suspected someone was or had been. | | | | opener in your car in case your car is stolen. Do |
| When identifying your mail box, buzzer or door | | | | not leave a spare set of keys in the usual places |
| use your last name and first initial only- no Miss, | | | | that can be a no brainer for perps. Always have |
| Mrs. or Ms. Have a peephole in your main door | | | | your keys ready when approaching your car or |
| and don't answer it unless you can identify the | | | | home. Have the one you need in you hands ready |
| visitor. Never let on that you are alone to | | | | to use. |
| unfamiliar people. You may wish to yell, "I'll get it!" | | | | As always self defense for women is a lot of |
| after checking the peephole and before opening | | | | common sense techniques practiced faithfully until |
| the door. If a service person comes to the door | | | | they are second nature. For more information |
| unexpectedly, visualize their ID and call the | | | | please visit personal safety. |
| company to make sure they are for a legitimate | | | | |