Common Sense Security Tips For Women

[SHH 1313]

Here's one I will start off with.

Ladie's never park next to a van with no windows or dark tinted windows if you don't have to.

[SHH 1313]

Oops, thought I was in off topic....sorry

[Citicop]

Oops, thought I was in off topic....sorry

Moved it to General Law Enforcement Topics for you...

-Citicop.

[retdetsgt]

A great book I've recommended to every woman in my life is "A Gift of Fear" by Gavin De Becker. Fantastic book on how to listen to your instincts to stay safe.

[SHH 1313]

appreciate that, thanks..
SHH

Quote: RDS

listen to your instincts to stay safe.

YES, and don't think that "oh" that probably won't happen to me. I am always aware of my purse in the supermarket, mall etc but thought my purse is safe in ICU in a small hospital wrong. Always assume your purse is a target for thieves.

[retdetsgt]

YES, and don't think that "oh" that probably won't happen to me. I am always aware of my purse in the supermarket, mall etc but thought my purse is safe in ICU in a small hospital wrong. Always assume your purse is a target for thieves.

What I recommend (and finally convinced my wife to do) is to get a small wallet that will hold only a credit card, your ID and a little money and take that in the store with you in your pocket. Put the purse in the trunk of the car. It's doubtful you will require makeup or any of the 37 other items you have in your purse while your shopping for groceries or visiting someone in the hospital.

We had a serious rash of purse snatches near a major shopping center here years ago. We started a campaign to educate a lot of the older women that they didn't need to carry a 10 lb. purse with them every time they go in a store. Surprising to a lot of us, it took and fewer and fewer women carried purses with them into the mall and the purse snatchers had to find another way to make a living.

[retdetsgt]

Always strike a male attacker in the balls. No matter how big they are it will be effective.

BTW I am referring to the size of both the man and the balls.

Son, you really need to get a girl friend.....

That possibility if rarely, if ever available by the nature of purse snatches....

[jmac_52]

One of my old school teachers years ago said she carried a big purse with her everywhere she went. It didn't contain any money, credit cards or other valuables. Just 3 very large cans of creamed corn. She said they made an excellent weapon.

I didn't know this from other than her telling me. But I sure didn't want to catch her in a bad mood when she had her purse close by.

[retdetsgt]

I didn't know this from other than her telling me. But I sure didn't want to catch her in a bad mood when she had her purse close by.

I had one like that, my 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Aiken. She had been an Olympic high diver when she was young, but was in her late 40's then and "big boned". She could hunt bear with a jar of honey and a switch. I liked her, but when she got mad, the whole building shook!

[Pookie44]

Here's one I will start off with.

Ladie's never park next to a van with no windows or dark tinted windows if you don't have to.

This thread reminds me off a time I was at the mall. I parked far away cause I like to walk lol well anyways as I was walking out to my vehicle I noticed this weird van parked next to my jeep with two guys in the front ( note it was dark out and I don't own a cell). As I'm walking to my jeep I get this overbearing emotion to turn back around. So I went with my gut and went back inside the mall. I walked around for about 30 minutes until I seen a mall officer, I told him about what I was feeling and he gladly walked me to my vehicle. The two guys were still in the van when I left. I'll never know if I was being parinoid due to the fact I watch Forensic files all night long or I was truly in danger. I alway watch around me and if it's dark I park close to the building.

[retdetsgt]

Good job, Pookie!

The premise of the book I mentioned is that we subconsciously learn to read body language of others. Even though you may not have realized it, there was something in the way those guys were standing, talking or something that set off an alarm in your subconscious.

Good cops develop that to an art form. Being able to tell if someone is potentially violent is not as easy as it looks. The guy yelling and screaming may not appear to really be a threat where the person who is quiet, but if you notice his fists are clinched, arms stiff, etc., you better be careful. I can tell when my wife is really pissed by the way her voice octave gets a little deeper than usual. That's when I start choosing my words very carefully....

As my daughters grew up, I always told them to believe their guts when they got an "uh oh" feeling and get out of whatever situation they were in. Both have told me it served them well.

[Firestorm]

When I was about twenty, I never carried a purse really. But when I had to go to a store without a car, I always took my dog with me, and he carried it for me. No one ever bothered me because of that. Now I carry a small wallet like purse, held closely to me any time I think someone is getting too close. They always backed off though when I looked like I was about to hit them. Christmas time is the worst though. Ugh.. What some people won't try.

[JoetheGI]

Don't jog at night alone on isolated routes.

Back in the day I had a job that required me to drive through a wooded business area void of traffic in the evenings after business hours, and I would see a lone lovely lady jogging. No dog, nobody else. Not too smart imo...

[Firestorm]

Some people just don't seem to think about the consequences you know? And they should. You hear stories about women being abducted all the time while they were alone and vulnerable. It's like nobody learns, even at the expense of someone else.

[retdetsgt]

Some people just don't seem to think about the consequences you know? And they should. You hear stories about women being abducted all the time while they were alone and vulnerable. It's like nobody learns, even at the expense of someone else.

There is such a thing as a victim mentality. I noticed over the years that most women I had as rape victims had been the victim of one of more previous crimes.

My department has a "Women's Strength" program that I encouraged all rape victims to attend. It's taught by several women (non police officers) and instructs women on not only some rudimentary self defense tactics, but how to walk and act in a manner as not to appear to be a victim. One simple thing is just walking like you have confidence and a purpose. Some people (not just women) are obviously expecting to be the victim of some crime or the other.

The self defense tactics are not judo throws and other stuff that no one remembers how to do, but to start yelling aggressively at an attacker, etc. If nothing else that will make an attacker run and wait for a more compliant victim. It's very effective training because it's all things that are easy to remember and not something really all that unnatural.