Beat the Bad Guys

"Nobody can predict or stop senseless criminal violence. But there are ways to avoid becoming a victim of crime."  US News and World Report, Sept. 1971.

Fortunately, most crimes are plotted out by criminals, and if you learn how they think, you can take successful defensive action and avoid becoming their victim. 

 Ten Top Tips for Beating the Bad Guys

• You are followed by a car on your way home. You turn into your street and so does the other car. Do not pull into your drive or garage. Drive to the nearest police station, or call the police on your car phone. Let them tell you what to do.
  
  
• Don't use decals on windows and doors that say "Alarm" or "Attack Dogs" if they aren't true. They might deter a child but not a pro. A pro doesn't care, if what you have that s/he wants no amount of decals will stop him or her from taking the things from you.
  
  
• Radios and TVs playing on timers inside your house are good night and day. Although this is an old trick, it only works if it's realistic enough, say for instance, there is a TV or a Radio playing and a would be burglar comes knocking at your door, if there is no answer, he just might decide that there is no one hom and enter. If you are going to be gone for some time it is a good idea to tell a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your house.
  
  
• Neighbors are an excellent line of defense. You look out for them, they'll look out for you.
  
  
• Organize a neighborhood watch. Sometimes this is a deterrent enough to stop most of the thieves, but something more is needed to stop a pro. Remember that a pro will ofter disguise himself as a meter reader. So when organizing a neighborhood watch, be fore-warned that burglaries will continue to happen, regardless of your neighbors watchful eyes. It takes a pro about 4 minutes to gain entry, burglarize your house and exit.
  
  
• Every home ought to have a "safe room." Here's what's required: a cellular phone and 2) a strong, solid door with a dead bolt. If an intruder gets into your home, he or she may get a few items, but not you. Safety is paramount, Your personal property can be replaced, you cannot. 
  
  
• Alarms that signal break-ins are seldom necessary or effective, and neighbors rarely pay attention to them. Central systems that alert police or guards have poor response times. Less expensive security systems work better. The best deterrent against a burglar, is a dog that is willing to guard the house by chewing on the burglar.
  
  
• Carry your wallet in front pants pocket, not back pocket or inside jacket pocket. This deters pick-pockets, which, though is an almost lost art, still occurs today in large cities across the globe. It is much more difficult for a pick-pocket to remove a wallet from the front pocket than it is from the back pocket.
  
  
• Don't carry more cash than you can afford to lose. This is common sense.
  
  
• Carry as few credit cards as possible. If you don't use them often than why carry them, if you lose your wallet, those extra credit cards is a ticket to riches by the thief who got your 'stash.'
  
  -Birdy