Qui Custodes

Approaching your car part 1

In my last post I said I would write a bit about safety in parking lots.  So here goes with the first tip:

When you approach your car, look around before you get there.  That's right--before.  That means as you are walking around the parking lot looking for your car.  Why do this?  Because if you see something or someone who looks like they are waiting for you, leave the area and ask for an escort.  Always do this.  Another reason to look first--the person waiting may not know your car.  But they will when they see you go to open it up.  Now, if you are worried about a mugger who targets people randomly, that's not necessarily a big deal.  But if you are worried (or should be) about a specific person with a specific grudge against you--it's important to deny them as much information as possible.

Parking Lots

I saw an article in the local paper this morning--somebody was walking to their car in a parking lot and suddenly the lights went out. When he woke up his briefcase, laptop, jewelry, wallet were all gone.  No idea what happened, no suspects, no chance to figure things out.  So, as I keep saying, check your 6".  And remember that parking lots are prime places to find a target (victim).  Why?  Because you are distracted by looking for your car, finding the keys, carrying all the things you want to take with you. And because parking lots with cars in them have lots of dark shadows in which to hide and wait.  So be careful. 

In my next several posts I will try to give some tips about how to deal with this situation.

Cyperstalking

I stumbled on an interesting article by Caitlin Flanagan in the June Atlantic Magazine. In it Flanagan demonstrates how easy it is to become a cyberstalker.  She focuses on My Space and teenagers, but to me the article raises a more basic point:  Do you know what you are revealing to random strangers online.  The Internet is NOT anonymous and you should be aware of what you are revealing when you go online. 

Maybe I should start posting tips for how to remain anonymous but so far there seems to be no demand for it. 

Regardless, the least you can do is be aware of what you are revealing and *think* before you reveal all the intimate details of your life.

ladders

I think I've posted about this before but a story in today's Washington Post has brought it back to mind.  A neighbor keeps a large ladder outside his house and the neighbors are upset--they think thieves are using the ladder to break in to their apartments.  Now I don't know if it's true or not, but thieves do look for ways to break in to homes and a ladder, kept outdoors, is like giving them a key to your home. 

For the sake of your neighbors, if not for yourself, bring the ladder in.

Get Behind them

It's graduation time.  And summer time.  And time for all the tired, drunk, impaired drivers to be out on the roads more.  So, what do you do if you see one of these coming up on you?  Or you come up on them? And they are speeding/weaving/giving signs of being impaired?

Most people try to get around them quickly and go past them.  OK.  But then they are behind you and you have no idea what they are doing, if they have decided to speed up on you and follow you or anything.  Because they are behind you *they* control the situation.  So ...  try getting behind them and making sure they have all the room they need to be silly.  Then you can see what *they* are doing and drive defensively to avoid any problems they create. 

This doesn't work all the  time, but it does help.

knives

A lot of people won't believe this but ...  within about 7-10 feet, a knife can be more dangerous than a firearm.  So be careful if someone approaches you with a knife in their hand.  For  some reason many people don't realize how dangerous a knife can be up close, I don't know why. 

Generally, therefore, if I am not sure about a person I won't let them get within 7-10 feet as a result. 

Walking the dog

Just a short thought tonight:  when you are out--walking or jogging or whatever--and you see somebody walking a dog if you aren't sure about the dog, pass on the person's side not the dog's side.  So, if the dog is walking at "heel" on the person's left, pass on the Right side. That way, if there is a problem, the dog has to go past his owner to get to you. 

Get a harness not a leash

By now many of you have read or seen CNN or the various news media and the talk about the woman who drove a car into a crowd at a Washington, D.C. street festival.  A lot of people got hurt, many of them little kids.  Well, have you ever seen a kid with a leash on her wrist and the other end of the leash is attached to Mom or Dad?  I see it all the time.  And I always wonder:  Are they trying   to hurt their kid?  Just think about it for a minute.  Part of the reason for the leash is so the child won't get away.  But another reason is so the adult can pull the kid to safety or away from something dangerous.  Right.  So you pull hard on the arm and dislocate the shoulder or elbow.  That makes good sense.

Here's a better way.  Don't use a leash that attaches to the child's wrist.  Use a leash that attaches to a full-body harness.  They are cheap and safe.  One of my children ran into the street while wearing a harness attached to my wrist.  Car comes by at speed so I spun and pulled hard.  She went flying into the air, the car goes by missing her and she's not hurt.  Actually she thought it was a carnival ride and wanted to do it again.  After I could catch my breath, we did too--but not near the street.

It's summertime!

And you are out enjoying the late evening daylight.  And so is everyone else.  I saw something in today's Washington Post which caught my eye:  crime increases as daylight increases.  So, just because it's a nice night and you are enjoying the outdoors, don't forget that others are enjoying your enjoyment.  Be safe on the streets.

Use Your mirrors

Yesterday I was out driving.  Just a normal run to the stores.  I pulled into the parking lot and suddenly noticed that someone was following me.  All the way to where I park.  No place to drive away.  So I hopped out of the car and put my back to my car.  I didn't stay in the car because it's a little convertible--no protection at all. 

Turned out to be just a normal case of road rage.  Hewent away without even getting out of his car.

Moral:  use your mirrors.  Use them regularly.  And be aware.