Usually in familiar situations, at our home or close by in familiar neighborhoods doing our everyday ’stuff’, we tend to focus on other things – work, school, boyfriend/girlfriend,- and not on our surroundings. This is perfectly normal – when we’re comfortable with our surroundings we tend to relax and let our guard down. If you were in the middle of downtown Damascus, Syria you would probably be on heightened alert and taking in everything around you. Or worse, Camden NJ!

If you don’t pay attention to your surroundings you could easily be a victim of crime. Criminals are opportunists – if you present them with the opportunity they will act. It seems like such an obvious solution to avoiding crime and not becoming a victim.

Some interesting information from the Bureau of Justice Crime Characteristics:

In 2008

Time of occurrence

54% of incidents of violent crime occurred during the day between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
More than half (56%) of rape/sexual assaults occurred at night from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Almost half (46%) of household burglaries occurring during the daytime hours.

Place of occurrence

Almost 30% of violent crimes occurred in or near the victim’s home.
For violent crime, about half occurred within a mile from home and 76% within five miles. Only 4% of victims of violent crime reported that the crime took place more than fifty miles from their home.
About 18% of purse snatching/pocket pickings occurred inside a restaurant, bar or nightclub, 13% occurred in other commercial buildings and 10% occurred in parking lots or garages.
Of victims of violent crime, 21% were involved in some form of leisure activity away from home at the time of their victimization, 28% were at home, and another 19% were at work or traveling to or from work when the crime occurred.

Sometimes it takes a little more than staying alert to avert crime. Like having a weapon. Not necessarily a lethal weapon, just a deterrent to give yourself time to get away to safety. In this country, pepper spray or mace is an excellent, nonlethal tool to buy time. Probably best of all is pepper spray that you can spray accurately from 25 feet away. This way you can stop your attacker before he even gets close. If he’s already too close, then being constantly prepared is the solution with an attractive ring which is also pepper spray! Of course a big stick might work, too, but is a little obvious.

Don’t give them an opportunity. Pay attention to your surroundings wherever you are. And be prepared.

Molly Scanlan is the owner of http://www.R-U-A-Survivor.com, a business providing self protection products for people seeking non-lethal protection for their home, property and family’s lives. Contact her at molly@r-u-a-survivor.com.