My last two articles have been about safety around the home… how to keep your residence as secure as possible, what to look for around your house, etc.

This week, I’ve got some suggestions relative to how to keep yourself a little safer when you’re out and about – whether that’s going for a leisurely walk, jogging, shopping, or driving/riding in a car.

I know, I know, I know.  Everything thinks that muggings, assaults, and worse only happen to other people.  But my guess would be that crime victims don’t usually think that something like that is going to happen to them.

Here are a few tips to help keep you and your property safe when you’re out and about and away from your home:

• Don’t carry large sums of money, jewelry, or other valuables with you when you go out and, if you must, make sure you don’t flash them around.  When you’re paying for something with cash, don’t flash a whole wad of the stuff at the register.
• Don’t carry important papers with you, such as passports, birth certificates, or medical/insurance papers.  Not only is it a real pain in the arse to replace some of these types of documents, but they can be very useful to identity thieves.
• Be cautious when being approached by a stranger.  You don’t need to be rude, just be cautious.  Keep at least an arm’s length distance from him/her and trust your instincts.  If you get a bad feeling, just walk away.
• Ditto for entering an elevator.  If you get a bad feeling about someone in an elevator with you, don’t get on with him/her or, if you’re already on the elevator, get off.  If the doors are already closed by the time you get the bad feeling, push all the floor buttons and get off at the very next stop.
• Another hint for using elevators – always stand at the front of the elevator near the button panel, emergency phone, and emergency button.
• Don’t take the stairs.  I know, I know… this is completely contrary to what you hear when you’re talking about fitness.  However, for personal safety, the elevator is safer.  Elevators stop frequently and have an emergency button.  Many stairwells are darker and not well used so, in the case of an emergency, you’re less likely to encounter someone who can help you.
• If you’re out walking and someone in a car stops/pulls over to ask for directions, keep you distance from the car.  Don’t get close enough to be grabbed or have any items you might be carrying snatched away.
• A whistle and/or pepper spray on your keychain is a good idea.  An even better idea is to keep it in your hand when you’re out and about.

When you’re in your car, try to remember:

• Always lock your doors.  It doesn’t matter what neighborhood your traveling through or how many stops you have to make.  When you (and your passengers, if you have any) are in the car, lock your doors.
• Don’t leave packages, purses, briefcases, or wallets on the seat of the car.  Either put them on the floor where they can’t be easily spotted, put them in the glove compartment or center console if they’re small enough, or lock them in the trunk.
• If you’re parking your car at night, park in as well lit and well populated area as possible.  And think ahead… even if you’re parking your car in daylight, will you be returning to your car when it’s dark?  Look for where the lights are located and where the busiest entrances are.
• If you get lost while driving, stop at the nearest well-populated area and ask for directions.
• Never leave children unattended in a vehicle.  Ever.
• Check your surroundings before leaving a building and heading for your car.  If you see anything suspicious, go find security personnel or call the police.
• Always have your keys in your hand and ready to use when you’re walking to your car.  As you’re walking to your car, check the area around it.  Is there anyone milling around?  What kind of vehicles are parked next to your car?  Can you see if there’s anyone sitting in the vehicles around your car?
• Before you open your car door, look through the windows and check on the floor and in the back seat to make sure it’s as you left it.
• If an unmarked vehicle attempts to pull you over, motion to the car to follow you and proceed to the nearest well-lit and well-populated area.  If you have a cell phone, call 9-1-1 and explain that an unmarked car is attempting to pull you over, tell them where you’re stopping, and tell them to send a marked car.

And, finally, carry a cell phone.  I’ve had a cell phone for many, many years.  I got mine as soon as they became relatively affordable.  If I remember correctly, I got mine in the mid ’90s.  I had a bare bones phone and a bare bones plan that cost me $9.95 a month.  I hardly ever used the phone and got it for one reason and one reason only – safety.  If my car broke down and I was stranded somewhere, if I got lost somewhere, or if something worse happened, I liked the idea of being able to call for help without having to try to find a pay phone or a stranger to help me.  It gave me a greater sense of independence and freedom.  And that was worth $120/year to me.

Now, just about everyone has a cell phone.  While there are down sides to that (people who use them while driving or in restaurants or other inappropriate places), the up side is that it’s safer.  People are able to call for help quickly and easily.  If your phone has the ability, make sure you have 9-1-1 programmed as a one-touch button.  Also, program in your ICE contact.  If you’re not aware of what an ICE contact is, it stands for In Case of Emergency.  In your contacts, use ICE as the person’s name and program in the telephone number of the person you want emergency personnel to contact in case of an accident that leaves you incapacitated.

Although Erie County is a relatively safe place to live, that doesn’t mean it’s free of crime.  There are