14 Street Smart Crime Prevention Tips--Part 2

I am continuing the tips from Tim Dimoff that he gave in a seminar at my place of employment last Friday. Part 1 was yesterday.

Here are 14 Rules that Tim Dimoff gave to help prevent you from becoming a victim to crime:

Rule #1--Pretend to be a criminal. Think where would you hide if you were a criminal wanting to catch someone off guard? Who would be an easy target?

Rule #2--Pay Attention--Watch People. This takes away the element of surprise. By increasing your circle of awareness to 360 degrees around you, cuts your chances of being attacked by 90%!

Rule #3--Avoid groups of strangers. There is a "pack mentality" so it is wise to avoid walking close to groups of teens at the mall or a group of guys hanging around a store or ally.

Rule #4--It's okay to profile. Trust your inner alarms. If someone looks suspicious or you feel as though someone is following you, look directly at them and change your direction. If they continue following you, head for a crowd of people, light or a noisy place.

Rule #5--No stranger needs to be closer to you than 5 feet. If someone approaches you for directions and is getting closer than that, just tell them to "stop, close enough" and you could back up.

Rule #6--Know when to retreat. Do not show fear, change direction and get away. Do not be afraid of hurting their feelings if someone is making you uncomfortable or you think they are doing something suspicious.

Rule #7--Watch to see who is watching you. If someone is watching you and you look directly at them letting them know you know they are watching you, chances are they will look away and choose a different target, one less aware.

Rule #8--Watch for people getting out of cars at parking lots. Have your keys ready as you approach your car and lock the doors as soon as you get in.

Rule #9--Run in direction of your choosing--towards people, lights, activity and noise. Do Not go anywhere with any predator--upset their game plan--if they ask for something, give it to them and walk away or run away. Don't discuss it. Drop it on the ground, turn and leave. Property can be replaced, your life cannot.

Rule #10--Do not allow yourself to be surrounded. Change direction if you sense more than one person coming at you.

Rule #11--Designate a meeting place for your family if get split up when on an outing. Have a code phrase for your family to use to convey danger-listen up.

Rule #12--If someone does get the drop on you, don't argue, increase distance between you and them if possible, give them something and turn and go in different direction. Don't get into a conversation.

Rule #13--If someone attacks you rather than asking for something, that is the time to fight back. Do not go with them to another location.

Rule #14--Avoid high risk behavior. Do not provoke an attack and be aware of your surroundings. Stay alert.

Tim Dimoff said we should go home and tell our families and friends these tips. I hope you will do the same by sharing this on Facebook, tweeting it, Google + it and talking about it. If you didn't see Part 1, please take a look at it as well and stay safe!

(50 cents per legitimate comment during April goes to Paralyzed Veterans of America.)

Here's Part 1 of the Street Smart Crime Prevention Tips if you missed it. Share this:

Street Smart Crime Prevention Tips--Part I

I am sharing notes I took at a seminar that Tim Dimoff (President and CEO of SACS Consulting and Investigative Services, Inc.) did at my place of employment last Friday.  He was in law enforcement, worked for the FBI and worked under cover with no weapons. He didn't give self-defense moves or tell us how to use weapons but he did tell us how to use our head to help prevent us from becoming victims of crime.

For instance, if you are driving home from work and stop at a light and a man with a gun jumps into your car from the passenger side and tells you to drive, what do you do? 
(a)  Argue with him
(b)  Cry
(c)  Do what he says
(d)  Floor the accelerator and drive into a pole or tree and wreck the car

The correct answer is d because then you changed his game plan.  He knows police will be called and respond and he has to get out of there.  The number one rule for crime prevention is NEVER EVER go to a new location with a predator because chances are you will be killed.

Awareness and Presence

Extend your circle of awareness when you walk.  Look around and be alert.  Do not look like a victim, unaware of your surroundings.  (I guess I shouldn't walk while reading on my breaks and at lunch downtown anymore.) 

If you think you are being followed, cross the street or change direction and look at the person you feel is following you.  Criminals do not like to be looked at.  They like the element of surprise.

Listen to what your gut is telling you and if you feel uncomfortable, head for light, people and noise. 

Criminals avoid victims who look like they will offer resistance, so stand tall, walk confidently, look around and make eye contact.  Do not get lost in electronics--(cell phones, Kindles, ipods).

Avoid parking next to vans.  If one is parked on your driver side, get in on the passenger side, lock the door and slide across the seat of your car. 

Do not let a stranger within 5 feet of you.  Maintain your personal space by backing up to increase the distance and just tell them to stop before they get too close. 

He said if you want to use a weapon, carry pepper spray rather than mace.  It is effective at a greater distance and you do not to be as accurate when aiming it.


(50 cents per legitimate comment during April goes to Paralyzed Veterans of America.)

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Abby's All Better--Praise the Lord!

Inch diameter hole January 2012 after attack

3-24-12 only a small slit

Back in mid-January Abby (our dog) was attacked by two Rotweilers off leash and bitten 15 times all over her body. She was rushed to our vet in critical condition and had a big hole on the inside of her back leg that was about an inch in diameter. The vet said it would have to heal from the inside out and would take time. Thank God, it has finally completely closed up without getting infected.

The vet asked if he could take a picture of it healed up so they could show people that these things can heal. He said a lot of people would have had their dog euthanized if it was in such bad shape as Abby was. He thought that perhaps by showing people the pictures, it would encourage them to save their dog.

Saturday was our final follow-up visit and the hole is gone.  It actually did close up.  Now we can resume her advanced training classes and hopefully get her accepted as a therapy dog to visit hospitals and nursing homes.

3-31 12 all closed up--no more hole!

 (50 cents per legitimate comment during March goes to Paralyzed Veterans of America.)

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Our Favorite Reads For March (Writer's Workshop)

Both Gerard and I loved these two books:  Defending Jacob by William Landy and Home Front by Kristin Hannah. Click on the links to see our reviews.

Defending Jacob by William Landy is about a kid accused of murder and his father who is one of the investigators on the case who wants to believe in his son's innocence but has doubts when the evidence starts showing up.  In the back of his mind he can't help thinking about the other murderers in his family and wonders if it is in his genes and his son's genes.  The wife begins to wonder if her son needs psychiatric help and feels guilty, wondering if they weren't good parents.  It's a great read!

Home Front by Kristin Hannah is an enlightening book about a military family.  When Jolene's and Michael's marriage is going south, Jolene gets deployed to Iraq as a helicopter pilot.  She leaves thinking her husband doesn't love her anymore and so only writes to her two young daughters via email.  She doesn't tell them how bad things really are though because she doesn't want them worrying.  When she finally comes home, it is because she got shot down and was seriously injured.  Her husband learns to appreciate her more when she is gone and realizes he does still love her but doesn't know how to convince her.  It gives good insight into the adjustments soldiers and the families have to make, even after they get home from war.

We linked up with Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop to respond to this prompt:  Book review time! Some people STILL read books…share one of your more recent reads and tell us what you thought!

(50 cents per legitimate comment during April goes to Paralyzed Veterans of America.  Thanks to receiving 216 comments in March, we donated $108 to the American Cancer Society, giving half to Mrs. 4444 at Half-Past Kissin' Time to sponsor her difference makers and half to Lucky Lady at Country Pictures to sponsor her in the Relay For Life.)

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Don't Judge By Looks

I loved how this pair nailed it and made the judges and audience feel foolish for laughing at them at the beginning. So often we make judgments based on appearances, don't we? I'm sure it took a lot of courage for Jonathan to go on that show and I give him a lot of credit for being loyal to his friend who helped give him the confidence he needed to do it. Simon told him he thought he should dump his friend because she may hold him back but he said they would continue as a duo. Good for him! It's not always easy to overcome a bad first impression, but this 17-yr. old boy did it in just a few seconds--as soon as he started to sing. (50 cents per legitimate comment during March goes to The American Cancer Society by sponsoring Mrs 4444 and Lucky Lady in The Race For Life.)

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