Personal Safety for the Newly Independent

by Aaron Becker

Paranoia—or Common Sense?
I check both locks on my front door twice before I settle into my home for the night. And the door doesn’t even lead into my apartment; it opens onto my porch. Add to that the fact that most passersby on my street would probably have no clue how to get into my home, and you may call me paranoid. But little habitual actions one would regard as an overdose of common sense cut down, by leaps and bounds, the chances of being a victim of crime.

Two weeks into my freshman year of college, the most expensive thing I owned, my Trek mountain bike, was stolen from its locked place right outside my dorm. If I had read up on bike theft, I would have learned how common it is for bike thieves to use bolt cutters that can slice through standard chain or combination locks with ease, and I would have purchased a U-Lock, which is much more difficult to break and about the same price as the chain I used.

Three years later, my digital SLR camera, not to mention my story notes and other very important documents, were stolen from the backseat of my locked car, right outside my apartment as I took a quick nap on a sunny Saturday afternoon. If I had done my homework on car theft, I would have realized that thieves commonly hone in on what they can see and don’t bother to search for concealed items. If I had simply placed my valuables in the trunk, I could have avoided the theft.

Let Me Put Your Mind at Ease
It’s likely that by the time you get around to reading this, you’ve already recuperated from sending your son or daughter off to a college campus or a new city. I hope you haven’t been worrying too much. Whether you have or not, allow me to help settle those nerves.

According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report, incidences of both violent crime and robbery decreased 3% in 2011 from 2010. According to the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Statistics, 20-somethings between the ages of 20 and 24 make up only 4% of victims of reported violent crimes (37.8 per every 1000 crimes reported in 2008). Those between the ages of 25 and 35 make up even less. Although that number seems pretty low, the statistics for violent crime and property crime are very similar. The bad news is that your recently “un-nested” young man or woman is just as likely to be a victim of a violent crime as a victim of burglary. As I’ve stated, however, a good number of habitual actions can cut the chances of becoming a victim. Here are a few safety tips to share with your kid.

Know Your Area and, When Possible, Travel in Groups
The simplest way to be singled out by a criminal as an easy mark is by walking alone, especially away from public or well-lit places. Take a friend along, even to the grocery store, or stick to shopping by day and by way of a populated route, such as a busy street. According to research, many safety experts agree that traveling with a group or by way of a public or well-lit route decreases the chances of being a victim of a violent crime.

Another good idea is to ask around—most peers who have lived in the area know the best and worst spots. And, don’t forget to insert some fun. Biking, rather than walking, is a great way to reduce risk and simultaneously expand familiarity with a new area.

Never Accept Food or Drink from Someone You Do Not Know
In late 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published the DAWN (Drug Abuse Warning Network) Report, which cited, “Three quarters (73 percent) of drug-related [emergency-room] visits attributed to intentional poisoning were made by patients aged 21 or older.”

How many of those cases involved a person’s accepting food or drink from someone he or she didn’t know or trust? It is likely that quite a few did. In 60 percent of cases, the patient did not even know what he or she had ingested.

According to the DAWN Report, 37 percent of all cases involved unidentified drugs combined with alcohol. In other words, the victim was likely slipped a substance in a drink at a party or other social gathering. Many pharmaceuticals involved in these cases are hard to detect. Rohypnol, also known as the “date rape” drug, the most notorious and one of the most common drugs used in such cases, is tasteless and odorless.

Female patients account for almost two-thirds of these cases. Considering that most such cases involve alcohol, and the drug–alcohol combination can be easily lethal, it makes sense to simply play it safe. Refusing food or drink from those you do not trust reduces the chance of becoming a victim.

Keep Your Belongings Secure
Habitually locking doors or locking up belongings in secure areas reduces the chance of being a victim of theft. It may seem silly, but thieves typically go first for the easy items. Tuck belongings in out-of-sight places in cars, and keep household and dorm doors locked.

Another good rule is to take only what is required when you travel—you don’t need $300 in $20 bills or a credit card when going to the corner pizza joint.

Keeping belongings secure also encompasses your online presence. Choose personal passwords that combine symbols or numbers with letters to make the password more secure. For example, try “3mpyn3$t” instead of “emptynest.” Never give your password away, and try to remember it without writing it down. If you do choose to have a written copy, make sure no one can find it. Place it in a secure and locked location.

It helps to keep up with secure online practices. Most antivirus programs keep personal information relatively safe but always use a bit of common sense. Do not open emails from unknown sources and do not download attachments from emails that seem out of context, even if the email is from someone familiar. Password protect files or computers that others can access without your knowledge. Whenever possible, avoid accessing personal information like bank accounts from public computers.

Finally, Trust Their Instincts
You probably raised a pretty smart kid. Be sure he or she is confident enough to act on that good judgment and the idea that “if it seems like a bad idea, it probably is.” Most kids take risks and occasionally ignore their conscience or that parental voice in their heads. But, most of the time young men and women do listen and decide wisely. By forming safety habits, they can make safe living much more likely and becoming a victim much less likely.

LINKS

FBI Uniform Crime Report (2011). Percent Change by Population Group

Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Statistics (2008). Key Facts at a Glance: Trends in Victimization Rates by Age

The DAWN Report (2011). Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits Attributed to Intentional Poisoning

Aaron Becker holds a BA in English and is a freelance writer based in Cleveland, OH, specializing in health care and human interests. He has written and edited more than 300 articles that have appeared in at least 10 print and online publications. Aaron can be reached at ambecker77@gmail.com.