Titus 2 Men And Women

PERSONAL SECURITY

These Personal Security Tips were compile by Pastor Tim Young of Landmark Baptist Church in Davison, Michigan. He has shared these tips with Missionaries going over seas, but these tips also apply to anyone, anywhere. Some of the tips may seem like common sense, but all too often we forsake common sense and go with how we perceive a situation to be and which may what someone wanted us to believe.....

There are three components involved in a crime:

1. The desire of the criminal to take away what you have - This can be drug induced or physically motivated.
2. The ability of the criminal - There are criminals that are very professional. There are criminals that are very stupid and amateur.
3. The opportunity of the criminal - This is the only component of the three listed that we have control over.

The three enemies of the criminal are:

1. Light
2. Time
3. Sound

General Security

1. When you are out in a public place, do not allow people to get too close. If they proceed too close, move away. Putting your back against a wall, casually, without seeming afraid, is always the best method to observe your surroundings.
   
   
2. When exiting your house, bank, or stores, especially at night, take notice prior to leaving the building. ~You can look out the windows and doors and observe who may be lingering in the dark. Be very aware of suspicious cars and people; and if something seems threatening, do not leave without having someone escort you - the police department preferably. Do not fall victim by ignoring your surroundings.
   
   
3. The best time to go to the bank, or other traveling you may do, is during the daylight hours and at a known location. Try never to use an ATM machine at night, especially in an area you are unfamiliar with.
   
   
4. When shopping, try always to have an associate. Try not to ever have both your hands full of packages or materials. If you were confronted by a criminal, you would be unable to counterattack them.
   
   
5. When walking in public, especially in busy roadways, be very careful not only for speeding vehicles, but stalkers. Try to plan out your walking or traveling routes to avoid blind spots, or roadways that are winding, speeding, or otherwise precarious or unsafe.
   
   
6. If you have nobody responsible to advise where you may be going should you be going out on the town or on vacation, do write down information where you are traveling to and with whom on a piece of paper and leave it in your home in a relatively visible location should you not return. This will establish a track record history of where you may be and will assist the authorities with an investigation.
   
   
7. Another similar method is if you are driving somewhere, you can write down on a note and leave it in your glove compartment in with your insurance card, note pad, or similar location. You may also use a mini tape recorder to speak your message of where you are or problems that may have arisen with specific details of persons, places, and things etc., which can assist the authorities as well to investigate your possible whereabouts.

Travel Security

1. Always have your keys out and ready before leaving a building or approaching your car as well as your residence. Trying to locate your keys after you reach your car or home provides criminals an excellent opportunity to sneak up on you. Have your car door lock key and ignition key out and accessible. Also be aware that criminals may hide inside your vehicle or underneath your car and attempt to attack you. Keep your windows locked and rolled up as well.
   
   
2. Never give a parking attendant or mechanic or similar all of your keys. Only provide them with the ignition key and know the names of the people. You may want to keep a written logbook to assist you for future reference of who handled your keys and the dates. Color each key so that you know which lock the key is used for and can quickly locate the same to avoid fumbling around.
   
   
3. Also, look behind you as you are walking from time to time. If you see the same person or vehicle following you more than twice, you may want to proceed to a well-populated area and seek help and reevaluate the situation quickly. Don't be afraid to call the police; that is what they are there for.
   
   
4. When you enter your vehicle, assuming the bad guy isn't inside already hiding, be sure to lock your door immediately. Don't attempt to start your vehicle first, until you secure your doors.
   
   
5. If someone or something appears suspicious, have a notepad and pen available in your vehicle so that you can write down vehicles plates. Drive away to a well-populated area and report it to the police.
   
   
6. If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident and have a cell phone, immediately call
   911 if possible. If you feel uncomfortable due to night time hours or darkness, tell the driver through your window without opening your door that you have called 911 and will proceed to a well populated area where the police are waiting and write their vehicle license plates and personal description down on a note pad.
   
   
7. If you haven't done so already, purchase a cell phone and keep it charged regularly. Have a back up charged battery. Cell phones are the best means of help.
   
   
8. If you are being accosted or assaulted and have nowhere to run, consider going underneath a vehicle (not the bad guys); it is very hard for them to take you.
   
   
9. Always maintain your vehicle regularly, i.e.: tune-up, oil change, etc. Filling up your vehicle with gas during day light hours in a familiar area is best so that you aren't forced to drive in an unfamiliar area possibly at night which is dangerous.
   
   
10. Do not leave your car running while you are in a store. Do not leave your keys in your ignition with or without your car running because they are susceptible to being stolen.
    
    
11. Never pick up hitchhikers. It is never safe to have a stranger in the car with you. When you see a hitchhiker, do not pick them up. Even if they seem to be an innocent lady or girl, they may be accompanied by a bad guy hiding in the area awaiting for your arrival. If you want to be a good citizen and need to take action, call 911 and advise them of where the stranded hitchhikers or persons may be. Hitchhiking is considered a crime.
    
    
12. Create and establish a street, community, or neighborhood watch program. Your town administration highway department office can install the signs. You should communicate with your neighbors, if they aren't the criminal of course, and discuss
    suspicious cars, people, or ideally what action to take should something unusual occur.

Miscellaneous Personal Security

1. If someone solicits you by telephone or e-mail, be very careful. Do not give them or repeat your telephone number. Do not provide any personal information about your family or yourself. Buy caller ID and install this equipment so that you can see who they are before you answer. Keep a logbook of unusual or suspicious calls and contact the police immediately.
   
   
2. Having an answering machine is fine as long as you don't state your name or telephone number or where you may be in the message. A good message may simply state, "Hello, we can't come to the phone presently. Leave your message after the tone, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible."
   
   
3. You must always provide yourself another means of alternate communications, such as a cell phone. If the criminal cuts or disconnects your phone line, you're in trouble. Store or keep a cell phone in an easily accessible place and have a plan. Having an additional separate phone line is good, but a cell phone is better.
   
   
4. Try not to provide your financial history, credit card account information, or similar to people by way of e-mail, fax, phone. If you can hand carry it, this is the best method. If you do e-mail such documents, make sure you use a security encrypted secure server to send your materials. If you have to mail same, request a return receipt and try not to type or write "Mortgage Payment," "My Payment" or similar outside the envelope. Use thick envelopes or wrap your documents so that others cannot see through and get your account number, etc.

Some Additional Security Tips

1. If you are followed, drive to a well-lit and populated area; take good notes of vehicle following you, i.e. license plate, color, make & model, etc., and contact the police.
   
   
2. When blow drying your hair or taking a shower, lock your door or set your resident alarm. If you have a dog, place it in the home to alert you should someone attempt to gain entry.
   
   
3. Purchase a shredder so that when you dispose of your trash you can shred and destroy any credit card statements, personal documentation that may be visible while garbage is awaiting pick up and removal by the sanitation company. Many times the bad guys and derelicts may look through your garbage container and steal your checks or bank statements and use them to purchase merchandise with or clean out your accounts.
   
   
4. When a store representative asks you for your address, telephone number, or other personal information, advise them you do not wish to give any. If absolutely mandatory, write it down and put confidential on the top of it. Reason being there are people or the criminal is in line or around also and may hear what you are saying as well.
   
   
5. Always let someone know where you are and where you may be going. You should report all unusual stalking or following of you by any suspicious persons to the police immediately.
   
   
6. Practice self defense, conditioning, run, exercise regularly, meditate, study, learn and build spiritual, mental, and physical strength by applying yourself building your attention span and other important qualities.
   
   
7. Be aware of any unusual people, cars, occurrences which can worsen. Take good notes and advise family, friends, and police.
   
   
8. When parked in traffic, keep doors locked as usual and leave yourself enough distance from the vehicle in front of you should a criminal attempt to walk alongside your vehicle and gain entry or attack you.
   
   
9. Look in your rear view mirror as well to also avoid being rear ended by someone not paying attention or possibly a drunk driver.
   
   
10. When traveling to and from places,use different routes of travel within reason so that the lowlife criminal cannot know or track your travel routes. Be sure to always tell someone, i.e.: family, close friend, spouse what ways you may go should you not arrive home.
    
    
11. Don't park by bushes or vans. Park in areas with streetlights near.

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