How to Reduce Your Chances of Becoming a Victim of Crime

There are many ways to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of crime. The three most important areas to lessen the chances are to educate yourself, pay more attention and hardening the target.

As we grow older, we are supposed to become wiser and smarter about the world around us. We sometimes fall into the trap of thinking someone looks nice, act nice towards us, and is trying to help us. We have seen on too many occasions of these kinds of acts, or more importantly these kinds of people, take advantage of the retired. You have worked your share, and now it is your time to relax and enjoy life. Educating yourself involves doing a little research about something someone tells you. For example, if you need your house painted or maintenance done, ask a friend if they have used someone. Check references and ask for certifications, documentations or state certifications. If someone drives up and solicits a service to you without you initiating it, ask yourself what are their motivations. Educating yourself goes a long way to protecting the interest that you have worked so hard for over the years.

The second part of reducing the chance of becoming a victim is paying attention to the details. Things that seem out of the ordinary, such as a stranger in the neighborhood at odd hours of the day. People that don't belong in certain situations, such as a man walking into a bank in the middle of the summer wearing long sleeve jacket. These types of situations may seem funny, but just paying attention to the details increase your chances of not becoming a victim. Certain times it pays to ask question an be that nosey neighbor. What if a man dressed as a cable repair man shows up at your neighbors house while they are out of town, attempting to work on their cable, when you know all they have are rabbit ears on their television.

The third part and the most important part of reducing the chances of become a victim is what is called "hardening the target." Imagine this scenario: You are walking out of a mall at night, caring a lot of shopping bags and not paying attention to what you are doing. You are looking down and fumbling in you pocket or purse for the keys to your car. Along comes stranger, and your not even paying attention. He takes your bags and runs off, and you never even saw what he looks like except for his shoes as he runs away with your bags. Now imagine the same scenario with a different