Top Personal Security Tips

Your personal safety and security is vital and the best way to cut the risk of attack is by taking sensible precautions. Most people already do this as part of their everyday lives, often without realising it.

Follow these common sense personal security tips to minimize risk from harm:

  • Be aware in a crowded shopping mall or busy street as pickpockets may be about.
  • Be mindful when walking out and about of people walking close to you. Someone may be following you and if suspicious then turn around to see who is there, rather than being taken by surprise.
  • Be alert and aware when using public transport.
  • Don't walk in isolated places at night. It is advisable to carry a personal alarm siren or pepper spray and wear light-colored clothing. You could also carry a pocket flashlight.
  • Use a money clip and keep your cards separate.
  • When you answer the phone, simply say ‘hello’; don’t give your number. If the caller claims to have a wrong number, ask him or her to repeat the number required. Never reveal any information about yourself to a stranger and never say you are alone in the house.
  • Don’t carry any more cash than you really need to and remember to keep your purse or wallet close to your body at all times.
  • Don’t take short-cuts through dark alleys, parks or across waste ground. Walk facing the traffic so a car cannot pull up behind you unnoticed.
  • If you arrive home one day and think you may have been broken into, do not enter your home. Call the police and wait with a neighbor.
  • A stranger may ask you use you phone. Make him wait outside and make the call for him.
  • If you wake to hear the sound of an intruder, only you can decide how best to handle the situation. You may want to lie quietly to avoid attracting attention to yourself, in the hope that they will leave. Or you may feel more confident if you switch on the lights and make a lot of noise by moving about. Even if you’re on your own, call out loudly to an imaginary companion – most burglars will flee empty-handed rather than risking a confrontation. Ring the police as soon as it’s safe for you to do so. A telephone extension in your bedroom will make you feel more secure as it allows you to call the police immediately, without alerting the intruder.
  • If you at home by yourself, make sure all windows and door are locked.
  • If your car breaks down then get out, raise the hood, but jump straight back in your car again. If someone turns up and wants to help then ask them to call for help for you.
  • If you get a lift home from a friend or even a taxi then ask them to wait until you are safety inside our home.
  • If someone you do not know comes to your door try not to give the impression you are alone.
  • Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in any situation, then leave.
  • If someone snatches your bag, don’t fight back, you may get hurt – let it go.
  • If you take cash out of an ATM, make sure you choose a machine that is in a well-lit location.