15 Personal Safety tips from CIA!

Over the last few weeks we’ve had to give advise to a few friends after their place was burgled. So after looking into questions of personal and home safety, we arrived at these tips for you to put into practice. If applied, these will give you and your household greater protection.

1. This might seem obvious, but you’ll be surprised how many suburban homes are unlocked somewhere. So make sure all doors and windows have locks/deadlocks, USE THEM!

2.  When you arrive home have your key handy so you are not standing there fumbling around making yourself an easy target.

3.  Keep doors locked even when you or family members are at home.

4. Have locks installed on your fuse boxes and external power sources. 

5.  If you arrive by car at night always leave your headlights on until you have opened the front door or garage.

6. Have motion lights fitted or leave on an outside light at night. 

7.  Make sure you know who is at the front door before opening it.  Have a door viewer fitted so you can clearly see them and they can’t see you. The old chain-lock you find in cheap hotels, DO NOT offer protection.

8.  When you first purchase your house or apartment get the locks and keys changed. 

9.  Be aware of unknown visitors at your door asking to use the phone or some other item. Ask them to wait in a well lit area away from your door and make the phone call for them without letting them in (you will know whether to call their number or the Police based on how they respond).

10.   When someone phones with a wrong number never give them your correct number.  Should you receive an obscene phone call, hang up and call the police.

11.  Try to remain anonymous by:

·    Not using your full name on Facebook and other online social sites.

·    Not using your photo for a profile and have your security settings set high so only your friends can see your photos.

·   Do not use you name or initials as a customized vehicle number plate, in fact keep the standard number plate, they’re harder to remember and that’s a good thing.

·   Get rid of those ridiculous “My Family” stickers. (Why tell the stalker you have more than one daughter?)

12.  Think about putting in a monitored alarm system.

13.   Have security cameras fitted with a recorder so that if you are burgled/robbed there is a record for the police.  It is important to have a dated and timed recording.

14.  When you arrive home if you are suspicious that someone is inside your house go immediately to the local Police or another secure place (relatives, friends or known neighbor’s house).

15.   If you are still concerned for your safety, try the GSM watch with available from Cams in Action, which will dial your emergency or next of kin contact at the press of one button and send an SMS to that number with your GPS coordinates! Pretty cool gadget really!

Well hopefully these points will help you solve some of your safety concerns. Remember the list of tips does not stop here or guarantee total protection. When thinking of possible personal safety scenarios, we always came back to the term ‘situational awareness’. If you will let your guard down in the safety of your home, make sure you have systems in place to make your home “safe”. If you have specific concerns or if you have experienced threats, contact the Police straight away.