Most parents warn their kids not to talk to strangers.
Parents even put their children through tests to ensure they are alert regarding their surroundings, paying particular attention to strangers who may be milling about and to be able to devise escape plans should their attacker get to close.
Those parents provide some good information, but unfortunately some of them do not take heed to these same warnings.
Crime experts believe that every 35 seconds someone becomes a victim of a crime.
Most crimes are committed against women and most women that become victims know or share the same living space with their attacker.
This article will share how you can keep yourself safe and decrease the probability of being a victim.
Predators look for victims that appear not to be familiar with their surroundings.
Sometimes they are caught off guard because they are preoccupied, elderly and alone whether in daylight or at night.
Predators usually approach their victims by befriending them in some way.
For example, they may approach a victim and ask for the time or even feign being directionally challenged.
I remember an incident where a man drove up beside me while I was walking towards a retail outlet in a parking lot and asked for directions.
I looked at him and I could feel that something just didn't seem to fit.
Plus, I can hear a strange sound from inside his vehicle that I couldn't quite identify.
Normally, I would walk right up to the driver's door and provide directions, but it was something about this man that told me that wouldn't be a wise decision.
I gave him directions, but stood at a distance from his vehicle in case I had to make a run for it.
He appeared not to understand what I was saying which I recognized as a ploy to get me to come closer.
With that in mind, I began walking towards the store, but walking in-between cars so he couldn't drive next to me again and possibly grab my clothing or pull out a weapon on me.
This incident occurred within a very nice shopping mall parking lot, but on this particular day I had parked my car in a less populated area of the mall.
What can you do to keep yourself safe? No one can predict when an incident may occur, but you can take certain precautions to decrease the likelihood of being a victim of a crime.
Your personal safety should be the most important thought in your head despite the inconvenience or time involved to maintain a level of safety for yourself.
It's just something you have to do.
Here are some personal safety suggestions you can use to keep from being a victim of a crime: 1.
Keep in mind that you have a choice.
This means you have to make good choices with your safety as a priority.
For example, what sense does it make to go to the ATM at midnight or even do your grocery shopping at 10 o'clock at night because you like the fact there are not that many people in the store.
There's a reason for that.
You are the most vulnerable because a predator loves the darkness.
They can hide very well behind large objects, cars, buildings and even wait patiently outside for you to exit with all those bags while you're preoccupied with just making it to the car.
The best choice to make is shop in the morning, during your lunch hour or at a reasonable time after work.
2.
Be wary of strangers that take an interest in you.
I'm not talking about those who may give a compliment and move on, but someone that lingers even after you've basically given them a dismissive sign that you've concluded the conversation.
However, these predators hang on to continue to engage you in conversation.
I'm not saying all predators will do this, but most will in order to catch you with your guard down.
Once that occurs, they will make a sudden move towards you in order to commit their crime.
The best choice is this situation is to be wary of a talkative stranger that comes out of nowhere.
3.
Rely on your intuition.
Use your gut instinct that signals you when something doesn't seem right about this picture.
The brain is capable of perceiving danger and alerting the body to respond even when your conscious mind may want you to dismiss it as nothing to worry about.
You really need to pay attention to those signals your body gives you when it senses something is awry.
Use good common sense and most importantly, judgment to escape possible danger.
Parents are very serious about warning their children not to talk to strangers.
However, they need to heed their own advice and be as diligent with their safety concern as they are with those concerning their offspring.
Personal safety affects us all, but women appear to be the more likely victims of violent crime.
We all should be reminded to heed the intelligence of our unconscious warning system.