Holiday Safety And Security Tips

Dec. 9, 2010 - PRLog -- The holiday season is a wonderful time to enjoy with family and friends but it is also a time when we see certain crimes increase such as burglaries, robberies and theft. The best defense is prevention. Here are some practical safety tips to help ensure you have a happy holiday and do not become a crime victim:

When no one is home, make your house look occupied by leaving some lights and a television or radio on. If you are gone for an extended period, have a neighbor collect your newspaper and mail.

When making purchases by catalog or the internet, try to ensure someone will be home at the time of delivery or have packages delivered to a friend or family member who will be home. Having your deliveries sitting on the doorstep is an easy target for criminals.

Do not go to ATM machines that are isolated after dark. If you are at a drive thru ATM, keep your doors locked, constantly look in your mirrors for suspicious persons and keep your foot on the brake with the car in drive ready to accelerate if needed.


It is preferable that ladies try to keep their cash, credit/debit cards and ID in a pocket versus carrying a purse. If you must carry a purse, do not carry it around your neck in the event someone tries to grab it and run. If someone does take your purse, let it go, it is not worth your life. Get a good description of the suspect and call 9-1-1.

Do not park in poorly lit areas or next to walls, dumpsters, corners, etc.

Remove all valuables from your car or keep them locked in the trunk and out of sight. It takes less than 10 seconds for an experienced thief to “smash and grab”.

When making the transition from your home, a store, a restaurant, etc. to your vehicle, keep the ignition key in your hand so you do not fumble looking for it if someone is following you and you need to get away quickly.

If you have a GPS unit in your car, do not save your house address as “Home” in your favorite’s folder. Instead, put in your local police department or post office address. This way, if your GPS is stolen, the thief will not know where you live.

Make sure your cell phone is always charged.

Constantly scan your environment and be aware of your surroundings.

Do not walk with your head down. When doing so you appear unconfident and lose your field of vision which makes you an easy target. Walk with confidence by keeping your head up, shoulders back and your back straight while looking people in the eye. This type of posture shows you are confident and will not be easy prey for a criminal.

In the event you are attacked, make a scene by yelling anything that will get you as much attention as possible and as loud as you can so that people will take notice. Do not stop until the attacker flees or help arrives.




Jason Ratcliff owns Empower Defense and Life Skills LLC. He is a 15 year law enforcement veteran currently assigned to the patrol division. Jason can be contacted through his company website at www.EmpowerDLS.com or at 614-989-9644

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We specialize in self defense, crime prevention, firearms, organizational safety as well as personal and professional development programs.