CRIME. It's an issue that permeated the 1988 presidential campaign. It infiltrates homes and communities. When seeking victims, it doesn't discriminate according to age, race, sex or social status. And, chances are some day you, too, will be a victim.
Scared. Violated. Indignant. That's how one victim felt after being burglarized twice. "In a way, it was like I had been personally attacked," she says. Her sentiments are shared by most people who have been ripped off in one wayor another. Unfortunately, most people cannot afford to surround themselves with bodyguards or install high-tech security systems. However, there are many basic precautions you can take to make yourself and your property less vulnerable to crime.
When it comes to protecting your home or business, the most effective security measures are burglar alarms that are hooked up to law enforcement agencies, electronic window sensors, closed-circuit TV cameras and security patrols, according to the Figgie Report Part VI--The Business of Crime: The Criminal Perspective. The study was based on responses from 589 Ohio prison inmates who are serving sentences for property crime. The study also reports that for residents of high-crime neighborhoods, keeping a dog in the house is the best way to keep criminals out. Making sure that someone is in the home at all times is also effective.
While safety measures such as engraving your valuables, using automatically timed interior lights, deadbolt locks, safes and strong boxes, and instituting neighborhood crime watch programs are helpful, inmates in the study gave these tactics low marks for actually preventing crime.
A burglar's three worst enemies--light, time and noise--can help you protect your home from crime. Exterior lights mounted out of easy reach can reduce the darkness a burglar finds comforting. By employing a few simple security devices--nails, screws, padlocks, door and window locks, bars and bolts--you can slow burglars down. In addition, alarm systems and vibration sensors make robbing your home or business a noisy job, and that discourage burglars.
Dr. Gerald Swanson, professor of economics at the University of Arizona, says that consumers, perhaps unconsciously, weigh cost versus benefit when it comes to protecting themselves. "If you don't consider that there is much value in your personal property, you are most likely to have a basic lock and few additional protective devices," he says. "However, as your fear of crime increases or as your property content and value increases, you are more likely to spend more on locks, bars and other deterrents."
For most people, it is easy to reject the idea of purchasing security items, because such items do not enhance the quality of life. However, to be safe, you must spend money. Unfortunately, not enough people are willing to make the financial sacrifice, Dr. Swanson says.
Common sense is the key to protecting yourself against crimes on the street, such as robbery, rape and assault. Although it is impossible to completely protect yourself from street crimes, some defensive measures will decrease your chances of being attacked, in your city as well as out of town. "Being careless increases the probability of crime, regardless of where you are," says William Arnold, associate professor of sociology at the University of Kansas. "On the streets, women and men often ignore simple tactics of how to carry their purse and where to put their billfold."
To deter pickpockets, muggers and purse snatchers, Arnold recommends that women carry purses with shoulder straps. The purse should be carried with the strap crossing the chest area and tightly clutched between the hip and arm. Men should carry their wallets in a front pocket, their checkbook in an inside jacket or coat pocket. "Button all packets," Arnold says, "even if they are empty. Bulky pockets or dangling purses serve as bait to would-be offenders."
Your chances of being victimized increase with the time you spend away fromhome. It seems the more you are outside your home, the more likely you are to become a victim on the streets. Moreover, the more time you spend away from home, the more likely your home will be robbed. Arnold stresses that people should evaluate their lifestyle. A quieter, less active lifestyle makes you less likely to be victimized, while a more active lifestyle increases your risk.
Personal crimes most often occur near a victim's home, whether it is in the city, a suburb or a rural area, according to U.S. Justice Department statistics. Outside the work or home area, the crime victim most frequently is the resident of a small town or rural area who is visiting the city. The statistics indicate that there definitely is safety in being "street-smart."
"Being street-smart means not being afraid to establish eye contact when walking on the street," says Rita Dysart, a crime prevention officer in Kansas City, Mo. "It's a deterrent if you don't look away from people as you pass them. Potential attackers know that eye contact can lead to a more accurate description, so they target people who are more passive and seem intimidated." Chemical and electronic devices used as deterrents are very effective, but only if they are used properly, says Officer Dysart. Most cities allow people to carry the chemical Mace, but there are pros and cons to its use. You must make sure the attacker is close enough to be sprayed, and you must have it out and ready. Beware that if there is a strong wind, you could find yourself twice the victim.
Gerald Arenberg, executive director of the National Association of Chiefs of Police in Miami and Washington, D.C., recommends tear gas that can be sprayed in the eyes to temporarily injure a potential intruder. "This will give you a chance to run, not fight," says Arenberg. "Also, instead of calling for help or police, yell 'Fire!'" he says. "People will respond to 'Fire!' but are afraid to get involved when you call for help or police, because they fear that their lives may be at risk."
Emergency alarms that emit high-pitched sounds are effective, but they must be readily available. However, before purchasing a chemical or electronic device, check with local authorities to make sure it is legal.
Victims of personal attacks in or near their automobiles often are guilty of ignoring highly publicized safety measures, which include having keys out and ready, not walking to your car alone at night (even in well-lit areas), and avoiding parking next to a van, station wagon or any strange-looking vehicle.
Usually, victims drop their guard and leave themselves open to attack. Body language, style andmanner of dress, or a particular situation may make you a potential victim. Of course, there is no sure way to prevent an attack. However, by simply being alert and employing every precaution available, you can decrease the chance of becoming a victim. Notwithstanding crime prevention devices, weapons and neighborhood crime watch groups, good common sense is also a crime deterrent.
"Many people take too many risks and leave themselves open for attacks," says one inner-city police officer. "But you must be alert and assume that you are always at risk. No place and no one is immune to crime."
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