Marijuana

Also known as weed, skunk, dagga, pot etc.

It is a dry, shredded mixture of green and brown leaves, flowers, stems and seeds. Marijuana is usually smoked by rolling into a cigarette known as a joint. Some people mix cigarette tobacco into the leaves to make the joint easier to smoke. It is also smoked in pipes, such as bottlenecks.
It is also used to make tea and used in cookery to make cakes. A concentrated resinous form is known as hashish.
The smoke has a distinctive smell, much like grass burning, a sweet and sour odor.

The immediate effects of smoking marijuana includes faster heart beat, dry mouth and bloodshot eyes. The smoker often gets the munchies, meaning they crave food. Users often suffer from paranoia, and will often find humor in anything, causing them to laugh uncontrollably.
Marijuana is often seen as a gateway drug to other more dangerous drugs.



References
www.drugabuse.gov

Methamphetamine

It is a white, odorless, bitter tasting powder or small crystals.

Also known as Ice, Crystal, Crystal Meth, Meth, crank, glass and in South Africa commonly called Tik, methamphetamine is an addictive drug It is one of the most difficult addictions to treat.

In South Africa, many people think that Meths is only used on the Cape flats. This is untrue, the drug is used right throughout the country and is a big problem.

This drug is a psychoactive stimulant. It mostly increases energy and alertness, but in higher doses induces euphoria, increases sexual pleasure and enhances self – esteem. It can also increase anxiety, irritability, aggression, obsessive behaviors, weight loss, irregular heart beat and paranoia.

Meth Mouth
Users of Meth often lose their teeth, a condition known as meth mouth. It is not true that this condition is caused by the corrosive actions of the drug itself. Instead, it is probably caused by a number of factors coinciding with the use of Meth, such as dry mouth and bad oral hygiene. Other factors also play a part.

The drug is most commonly administered through injection, smoking and snorting. Because of the use of needles when injecting, HIV and Hepatitis B and C are also known to spread with the use of Meths.

How to recognize Crystal Meths?
The first image shows the pipe that Meths are commonly smoked through.
The second image is a photo of Crystal Meths.


References:
Wikipedia.
National institute on drug abuse (USA gov)

Drawing money at banks

So maybe not everybody had the opportunity to see the program on television Sunday night, about people being robbed after drawing large amounts of money from a bank. Here is a quick overview of what happens.

The client goes into the bank and draws a large amount of cash, let’s say thirty thousand Rands. The client drives home, and at home he is confronted by gun – wielding thieves, demanding the exact amount of money he has just drawn.

Suspicion now falls on two places. To know the exact amount of money that the client had on him, the thief will have to have had a contact in the bank. This means either there is a spotter in the bank, or the thief is getting his information directly from the teller or someone else behind the counter. Now a spotter standing around idly in a bank is, in my opinion, highly unlikely. All banks that I have been in will kick such a person out in no time at all.

Of course the banks are denying anything of the sort, but the facts are clear and I don’t mean to get into an argument with them. Instead, I will rather tell people how to avoid the situation.

Avoiding the situation is easy. Simply do not ride around with such large amounts of money on you. I know some people have to pay wages, but the banks themselves have created cheap bank accounts for people who earn little or no money. Take your employees and create accounts for them, it will make life much safer for both you and your employees. You can then pay them over the Internet from the comfort of your own home, and they don’t have to walk around with a wad of cash and stand the chance to lose it.

Face it, our workers often have to ride on dangerous trains and taxis, walk in dangerous neighborhoods and sleep in dangerous places. Take the cash off them and give them a card, and you immediately take away some of the danger of losing a weeks wages.

And a last benefit. Find out from your bank how big the difference is between drawing large amounts of cash and using an Internet transfer, and you might find that you can save loads of money by using Internet banking.

All this from a person who, for years, did not use Internet banking because he thought it was unsafe. Well it’s not as unsafe as walking around with thirty thousand Rands worth of cash!

Stay safe.
LeonDude

Drugs abuse symptoms

Drug abuse is one of the most difficult things in life that a person might have to come to terms with. Drug use often starts out with the use of recreational drugs under peer pressure, but often escalates into full blown addictions from where it is very difficult to turn back.

I’ve decided to do a few posts about drug abuse, and in this first one I want to look at the symptoms of drug abuse. It angered me to find that parents often go into complete denial about their children and drugs. Recently I have heard of a case where the domestic worker told her employee about the children using drugs, only to lose her job. But the truth is that children can find drugs as easy as they can find their own homes. With cell phones, the Internet and an overpopulated schooling system, it has never been easier to find drugs than today. Don’t get me wrong though, children are not the only drug users. There are just as many adult drug users. Here is how to recognize if your loved one is using drugs.

Physical signs of addiction
Basically there are two types of drugs, one that takes you up and gives you energy, and one that takes you down and makes you lazy. Uppers chase up the blood pressure and metabolism, and reduce the ability to sleep. Downers like opiates and barbiturates slows things down, reduces blood pressure, breathing and alertness.
• Watch out for cycles of increased energy, restlessness, and inability to sleep (often seen in stimulants)
• Excessive sleep
• Abnormally slow movements, speech or reaction time, confusion and disorientation.
• Sudden weight variations such as weight gain or loss.
• Wearing of clothes to hide specific areas of the body, to hide scarring where injections had been given.
• Methamphetamine (Known as TIK in South Africa) causes progressive severe dental problems.
• Check for drug paraphernalia such as unexplained pipes, roach clips or syringes.
• Chronic troubles with sinusitis or nosebleeds might be present with drugs taken nasally. (Snorted).
• A persistent cough or bronchitis, leading to coughing up excessive mucus or blood can be seen with smoked drugs.

Mental and emotional signs of abuse and addiction
Because drugs are abused for the good feelings they provide, one of the key symptoms is the affection of mood, depending on the type of drug used. Mental and emotional signs include:
• Cycles of being unusually talkative, energetic and cheerful.
• Apathy, depression, paranoia and delusions
• Heightened states of agitation, irritability and anger.
• Lowered threshold for violence
• Looking “spaced out” and being unresponsive.
• Temporary psychosis, hallucinations

Paperwork – The first important step

How many times have you heard that a case was thrown out of court because of a technicality? Once too often perhaps?

Well this is what happens when the paperwork is not done correctly. A defense lawyer will jump on anything to get his client to walk free – that is after all what he is there for, whether said client is guilty or not.

Paperwork starts the moment the police take a statement from you. You have to have your facts straight, because any inconsistencies will look very bad in court. Often, more than one plaintiff will give a statement, such as a husband and wife. When these things reach court they have to be consistent or the defense will walk all over it. If you can, try to write the statement yourself, to make sure that names of people, streets and so on are spelled correctly.

The suspect, if caught, will also be required to make a statement. In trying to defend himself he/she will try to cover their tracks, and if your statement together with that of your spouse is accurate enough to show the inaccuracies with that of the accused, it will help to put the accused behind bars.

The police docket must also be up to scratch. The street number, name and so on must all be correct, or the investigating officer will have a hard time working the case – and your case will be dragged out – if not thrown out. Double check your phone number to make sure the people can contact you if needed.

If possible, try to make a copy of your statement for your own purposes.

Remember to also log onto my security website at http://www.togetheragainstcrime.net/forum/index.php

Stay safe!
LeonDude

Crime statistics – It’s not just the cops

This is almost a continuation of my post about apathy.

I’ve heard it over and over again, how the police and the government play around with crime statistics to make themselves look good. Stories abound, about rooms full of dockets going to mould, dockets disappearing, police refusing to open dockets at police stations when the public goes to report crime. The list goes on.

However, to tell you the truth, I’ve heard just as many stories where the public, after a crime has been committed, don’t go through the trouble of reporting the crime. Doubtless the above mentioned factors play around in the publics mind when they have to report a crime, but the fact remains that an unreported crime helps the criminals, not the police or the public.

Remember that the police have no way of knowing that there is a problem, even with petty criminal activity, if these crimes are not reported. It’s a vicious circle, and the only person who can break it is the victim.

Some crimes, especially those that are committed within a household, cannot be solved by putting more cops on the street. Yet reporting them can still get them stopped in other ways, such as through direct police or social services intervention.

The best way to report an incident is still to go to the police station and report it there. By going to the police station instead of waiting for a police vehicle to come out to your house, you are freeing up that vehicles time.

Remember to log onto the Together Against Crime forum at http://www.togetheragainstcrime.net/forum/index.php

Stay safe
LeonDude

Apathy – The road to being a victim

If there is one thing about people I will never understand, it is apathy.

I agree that the government is supposed to make sure that South Africa is crime free, but when they fail to do so, it seems that most people will also fail to do anything about the situation, other than sit around and moan.

After taking part in patrols for more than a year, it amazes me that a person will stand up in a public meeting and rant on for half an hour about how bad the government is, and how nobody ever does their job. And yet in the previous year I have not seen that person during any of the patrols. To make matters worse, these people will then demand that they must be looked after by the CPF, people who give their time freely and willingly. Sorry people, get up from your buts and join in, or you’re going to be victims for the rest of your lives.
Yesterday one of the houses in my area got burgled again. Last night I asked the CPF member who responded what the caller had said when he asked her to join the patrols. You can just guess it – she had a good excuse why she and her husband could not join in patrols. The caller was not the person being burgled, she was the neighbor who had reported the burglary, but if she had been somebody who had joined in patrols, she would have handled the situation differently, the responders would have handled the situation differently and the outcome might have been different. As it is, another bunch of criminals got away. And another victim have been created.

Here’s the long and short of it. If you don’t want to be a victim, be pro – active. Do your bit and get rid of crime in your area, and help others make your area safe!

Remember to log onto the Together Against Crime forum at http://www.togetheragainstcrime.net/forum/index.php


Stay safe
LeonDude

Mr. Cele, what about the farmers?

In Gauteng and other major cities, the newspapers, television and Internet news have made it quite clear that the new policing tactics are out to make South Africa a better place. Crime kingpins are arrested, three of the four Christmas day attackers are shot dead in a bloody shoot – out with police and arrests are made hand over fist in serious crimes.

But that is in the Cities. For the farming communities out there, crime is still continuing unabated. On e – tv they discuss the newspapers, and this morning I noticed that the farm murder on the front page of one of the leading newspapers did not even get a mention.

Arrests are being made, of course. In the case of the Free State (Ficksburg) farmer who was killed, three suspects were caught hours after the murder by community members and the police, but for the murdered farmer, that arrest came hours too late. As I’m writing, the murderers of another farmer, in Mpumalanga, are still running free.

It would seem that high profile crimes are getting the most attention, crimes such as cash – in – transit robberies, mall robberies by big gangs and the robberies of the rich and famous. When it comes to those people who put the food on our tables, the crimes are downplayed.

I think someone should explain to Mr. Cele that if he would like to continue eating good food, he should look after those who produce that food.

If you would like to help with the crime in South Africa, please remember to join my crime forum at http://www.togetheragainstcrime.net/forum/index.php

Social Crime

Social crime is that which happens between people who know each other, such as family members and friends. Because these crimes often happen in the privacy of a home, they go unnoticed by the police unless a family member, friend or neighbor makes a call to the police.

Because of the social nature of these crimes, family pressure often causes these cases to be dropped, and they thus never land up in court. This also means that they are never adequately solved, and the situation tends to continue from week to week, usually over weekends.

In a great number of these cases, substance abuse is a great contributor. Alcohol and drugs both play a part, and it is often the substance more than the social factors that leads to the abuse.

Theft too, comes into play here, as a great number of crimes are committed to feed a habit. When stealing to find money for drugs or alcohol, the thief will usually not go very far to look for something. Young members of a family will often steal small but valuable items from a home to sell, and only once they get caught will they move their activities out of the house and into the neighborhood.

Please remember to visit my forum at http://www.togetheragainstcrime.net/forum/index.php

Anti stab vests – what a joke.

Firstly, let me state clearly that although SA has got a crime problem, I don’t think we’ve reached the stage where visitors have to bother about anti – stab vests. Personally I still walk around the street with a T – shirt.

What good would such a stab vest do you in any case? It covers only a small part of your body, and criminals will soon learn to recognize a stab vest and will know which other bits of the human body a blade can be slipped into.

Although the police are hiding the stats as far away as they can, I reckon that stabbings account for only a very small percentage of the crimes committed in South Africa.

A good dose of being sensible about what you do, and taking your surroundings into consideration, will keep you much safer than an anti – stab vest. In my opinion such a vest will only give you a false sense of security.

Think about this situation. You are wearing an anti – stab vest and three men hold you up. They have got knives, and they want your money or your life, but are prepared to take both. Are you really going to try to defend yourself because you are wearing that vest? I suggest you hand over your wallet to the three men and hope they don’t kill you, because that vest is going to be useless.

So what am I going to say if a foreign visitor does get stabbed while in SA during the 2010 world cup? Well, nothing. South Africa has got crime, I’ve said that, but you cannot try to stop everything. We have a LOT of gun crime, but I don’t think the average visitor is coming here with bodyguards, bulletproof vests and their own security limo.

Come as you are, come and enjoy South Africa, but just be vigilant, ok?

Remember to log onto my security forum at here.

For the record, I do wear a bullet proof vest, but only when out on patrol, because then I am out looking for trouble.

Have a plan

Have a plan

Having a plan against crime means that when something goes wrong, you won’t have to decide what to do – you will KNOW what to do.

Draw up a site plan of your yard and house, and use this to determine how you will handle crime. Mark every window and door on this plan, and check that every window and door is secured. Also, put in the position of the major trees and beddings in your garden, so that you know where a threat may be hiding. Make sure that these areas in your garden are well lit. When putting up lighting, remember to put the lighting up from the inside out, so that the light will blind the criminal, not you.

Your next step is to use the plan to see where you must situate your interior and exterior alarm sensors. Make sure that the whole of the house and garden is covered.

Now make sure that all indoor areas that are used as sleeping areas are covered by extra security doors, so that you will have an extra security barrier while sleeping.

Next step – create a designated strong room. This room is not just used in case of danger from crime, but in case of fire as well. This is an expensive step, but it could be a life saver. This room must have extra security on the window, and the door should be both fire and bullet – proof. However, although you should design it so that nobody can get it, it must also be designed so that a person who is inside can get out. In the case of fire, this is very important. For this reason, I suggest that the security bars on this room should work with padlocks, and that the keys should be accessible. If your house catches fire while you and your family are inside the secure area, this will be your only escape route. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU CAN ESCAPE IN CASE OF FIRE.
This room should contain a communication device such as a radio or telephone, it should be where your family keeps the medical kit and there should always be a fresh supply of water. This room should also have a fire extinguisher, which should be regularly checked and maintained.

The most important thing about your emergency plan is that your family should know how it works, and they should be able to work it without your presence. If there is an armed robbery, fire or other incident, make sure everybody knows how to get into the secure room quickly. Make sure everybody understands that security doors must be locked and the alarm must be armed.

Remember to visit my security forum here.

Stay safe!

LeonDude

Ten things you can do to free the Cops time

I reckon it’s a well known fact that the police in South Africa is under – staffed. Here is a list of ten things that you can do to ease their time up.

1. Make way for the police when they have their sirens going and lights flashing. As someone who has been in police cars a few times en – route to an emergency, I find it strange how often people just will not move over for a police vehicle with both a siren and lights. Please remember it might be your house or the house of a family member that they are on their way to. Please make way!
2. Try to diffuse stressful situations. It is very easy for a simple situation to get out of hand, especially when liquor is involved. If you find yourself in such a situation, don’t make the cops life difficult. They will not tolerate it and your behavior might score you a night in the slammer. If the situation has nothing to do with you, stand far away or leave the scene (if you are not an eye witness) so as to make the situation less stressful.
3. When passing the scene of a motor vehicle accident, keep your eye on the road and pass swiftly and safely. A lot of secondary accidents are caused by motorists looking at the accident scene instead of keeping their eyes on the road where it should be. Going slowly to look at the accident also backs up the traffic.
4. Domestic crimes waste a huge amount of cops’ time. These are things like husbands fighting with wives, music being played loud, being aggressive towards others and so forth. By keeping a cool demeanor and taking care of yourself and your neighborhood, you can save a lot of calls to cops.
5. Don’t make that call. Before you make a phone call that will require the police to come to your house or location, think carefully if it is really needed. A simple scenario would be the theft of an item from your yard, for instance a bicycle. If there is no evidence on the scene that the police can use to catch the culprit, it might be easier to just go into the police station and open a docket. (And it will probably be quicker too!).
6. Be aware of what is going on around you. If you prevent a crime by being observant, you have probably just saved at least an hour of police time.
7. Give assistance if you can. Yes, if you are a medic or a doctor, or even if you just have a medical available when one is needed, you might be making the cops’ job much easier. When there is a situation where the police are involved, always give a thought to what you can do to make things easier for them.
8. Don’t look the other way. If you have information that the police can use, hand it over. If you notice suspicious activity, let the police know. Remember that stopping a crime takes far less time than solving a crime and catching a criminal.
9. Become involved in neighborhood watch. The more you patrol your area and act like the eyes and ears of the police, the more they can concentrate their powers where it is really needed. Police know about formal neighborhood watch schemes and CPF, and work closely with these people. By being part of these, the police will get to know you and trust you, and will therefore respond better when you make a call.
10. Make use of an alternative. If you can afford it, try to have your alarm linked to a private security firm. Granted they are not always there immediately, but quite often they can be there before the police. They can make arrests, protect you and your property and they too work closely with the police.

Hopefully you can make use of some of these tips at some time, and take a bit of stress of the police force!

Stay safe
LeonDude

When the victim becomes the criminal

From a IOL report

“Careless holiday makers are to blame for the high crime rate in Pennington on the South Coast”, says Umdoni Ward Councillor Russell Meyer. (end quote)

Man that is surely one of the most irresponsible and nauseating statements I have read in recent time (Barring of course those made by a certain youth league leader).

This person obviously feels that we the public should be living in prisons, guarding ourselves day and night while hiding behind thick security bars with alarms for protection.
Russell has obviously never thought that a country where people, read human beings, live, should be a place free of crime. From that one statement it is obvious that he has become the slave of crime, locking everything around him, looking over his shoulder, and never even contemplating that there might be an alternative existence.
Wake up Mr. Meyer. If the government of this country has been doing its job, if the justice system worked and the policing system worked like it should, that utterance of garbage you made would have you out of your job in no time at all. But because people like you attack an innocent public (because it is easier) instead of facing up to the harsh reality that crime has taken over this country and something should be done about it, this country is going down the drain.
It is not “Careless holiday makers” who are to blame Russell, it is the criminals, government and people like you who are too scared to point to the real problem, and do something about it.

ATM use

One of the places where a lot of crime happens all over the world is at ATM machines, yet a few precautions should make sure that you can safely use the machine

• Observe the surroundings
Check that there is no suspicious activity around the ATM machine. If there are any persons loitering in the area, leave the ATM machine and go to another machine. Report suspicious activity to the bank.

•Have Your Card in Your Hand
Have your card ready when you approach the machine, so that you are not distracted by looking for your card.

•Keep your PIN a secret.
Use your body or hand or an object to shield the ATM keyboard when you enter your PIN. Do not give someone else the opportunity to see the number that you are entering.

• Don't Leave Your Receipt
Be sure to take your receipt or transaction records with you when you leave, otherwise criminals can easily know how much cash you have got on you and how much cash you have in the bank.

• Do not Flash the Cash
Put your cash away immediately. Do not display or count it at the machine. You can always count it later.

• Keep Your Car Secured
Lock your car if you have to get out to use the ATM machine. If you use a drive-up ATM machine, lock all doors and be sure the passenger-side windows are rolled up.

• Beware of card skimming devices
Card skimming devices are devices that read the info off your card and stores them. These devices are attached to the slot of the ATM machine and looks like part of the ATM machine. Look out for any piece of equipment attached to the ATM machine that looks as if it can be readily removed.

• ATM Bombings
In South Africa, this is a very real threat that can hit while you are using an ATM. Be aware of suspicious packages around or on an ATM machine, and report such packages to the police or bank. Do not use an ATM if you have noticed such a package.

Using an ATM at Night
• Take another person with you for added security.
• Park in a well-lit area, as close to the machine as possible.
• Do not use the machine if the lights on it are not working.
• Make sure you are in view of the public. If the view of the ATM machine is blocked by overgrown shrubbery or trees, or any other objects, use another machine.
• Notify the bank about the visibility problem.

Always notify the bank about any security threats you might encounter while using their ATM machines.

Sexual Assault Prevention
• Be alert. Don’t assume that you are always safe. Think about your safety everywhere. Your best protection is avoiding dangerous situations.
• Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in any situation, leave.
• Always walk, drive, and park your car in well-lit areas.
• Walk confidently at a steady pace on the side of the street facing traffic.
• Walk close to the curb. Avoid doorways, bushes, and alleys.
• Wear clothes and shoes that allow freedom of movement.
• Walk to your car with keys in your hand.
• If you have car trouble, raise the hood and stay inside your car. If a stranger wants to help, have him or her call for help. Don’t leave your car.
• Keep your car doors locked and never pick up hitchhikers.
• Make sure all windows and doors in your home are locked, especially if you are home alone.
• Never give the impression that you are home alone if strangers telephone or come to the door.
• If a stranger asks to use your phone, have him wait outside while you make the call.
• If you come home and find a door or window open or signs of forced entry, don’t go in. Go to the nearest phone and call the local law enforcement authorities.

The following piece was written with terrorism in mind, but I have adapted it for a typical crime scenario. Do not be fooled – Surveillance is alive and kicking in South Africa. Most of the bigger crimes like car – jackings, house break – ins and the like follow a period of surveillance where the thieve or thieves will get to know you well enough to know what your next move is going to be.
LeonDude

Don't forget to visit my Security forum at http://www.togetheragainstcrime.net/forum/index.php

Surveillance

The purpose of surveillance is to identify a potential target based on the security precautions that individual takes, and the most suitable time, location, and method of attack. Surveillance may last for days or weeks. Naturally, the surveillance of a person who has set routines and who takes few precautions will take less time.

Detecting surveillance requires a fairly constant state of alertness and, therefore, must become a habit. A good sense of what is normal and what is unusual in your surroundings could be more important than any other type of security precaution you may take. Above all, do not hesitate to report any unusual event.

There are three forms of surveillance: foot, vehicular, and stationary. People who have well-established routines permit surveillants to use methods that are much more difficult to detect.

If, for example, you leave the office at the same time each day and travel by the most direct route to your home or if you live in a remote area with few or no alternate routes to your home, surveillants have no need to follow you all the way to your residence.

You should:
• Vary your routes and times of travel.
• Be familiar with your route and have alternate routes.
• Check regularly for surveillance.
Stationary surveillance is most commonly used by terrorist organizations. Most attacks take place near the victim’s residence, because that part of the route is least easily varied. People are generally most vulnerable in the morning when departing for work because these times are more predictable than evening arrivals.
Many surveillance teams use vans with windows in the sides or back that permit observation from the interior of the van. Often the van will have the name of a business or utility company to provide some pretext for being in the area.
Where it is not possible to watch the residence unobserved, surveillants must come up with a plausible reason for being in the area. Women and children are often used to give an appearance of innocence. Try to check the street in front of your home from a window before you go out each day.
If you suspect that you are being followed, drive to the nearest police station. Note the license numbers, color and make of the vehicle, and any information printed on its sides that may be useful in tracing the vehicle or its occupants.
Don’t wait to verify surveillance before you report it.
Be alert to people disguised as public utility crews, road workers, vendors, etc., who might station themselves near your home or office.
Whenever possible, leave your car in a secured parking area. Be especially alert in underground parking areas.
Household staff and family members should be reminded to look for suspicious activities around your residence; for example, surveillance, attempts to gain access to your residence by fraudulent means, and telephone calls or other inquiries requesting personal information.
Tell your household staff and family members to note descriptions and license numbers of suspicious vehicles. Advise them to be alert for details. Household staff can be one of the most effective defensive mechanisms in your home--use them to your advantage.
While there are no guarantees that these precautions, even if diligently adhered to, will protect you from crime, they can reduce your vulnerability and, therefore, your chances of becoming a victim.

Carjacking

•When in your car, always keep the doors locked. Any time you drive through areas containing stoplights, stop signs, or anything that significantly reduces vehicular speed, keep your windows up.


•Leave ample maneuvering space between your vehicle and the one in front of you. If you are approached by suspicious persons while you are stopped, do not roll down windows; drive away quickly.


•If you are being followed or harassed by another driver, try to find the nearest police station, hotel, or other public facility. Once you find a place of safety, don’t worry about using a legal parking space. Park as close as you can, and get inside fast.


•If another driver tries to force you to pull over or to cut you off, keep driving and try to get away. Try to note the license plate number of the car and a description of the car and driver. If this effort places you in danger, don’t do it. The information is not as important as your safety.


•If you are being followed, never lead the person back to your home or stop and get out. Drive to the nearest police station.


•If you are a woman traveling alone in a deserted place and a car bumps into you, don’t get out. Open your window just a bit, get the other driver’s details and give him/her your details, then drive straight to the nearest police station and report the incident. In areas where there is more traffic and people around it might be safe to get out.


•Never, ever pick up hitchhikers!


•When you park, look for a spot that offers good lighting and is close to a location where there are a lot of people. Lock valuables in the trunk, and lock all doors.


•Extra precautions are necessary when shopping. If you take packages out to lock them in your trunk, then plan to return to the stores to do more shopping, it may be a good idea to move your car to another section of the parking lot or street. The criminal knows that you will be coming back and can wait to ambush you. By moving your car, you give the impression you’re leaving. If you think you are being followed, do not go back to your car. Return to the safety of the occupied shopping area or office building and contact the authorities.


•If you have car trouble on the road, raise your hood. If you have a radio antenna, place a handkerchief or other flag there. When people stop to help, don’t get out of the car unless you know them or it’s the police. Ask the person to stop at the nearest service station and report your problem.


•If you are in a parking lot or parked on the street and have trouble, be wary of personal assistance from strangers. Go to the nearest telephone and call a repair service or friend for assistance. If you feel threatened by the presence of nearby strangers, lock yourself in your car and blow the horn to attract attention of others.
By using these basic safety tips and your own common sense, you can help protect yourself.