Self defense tips for your residence.
We typically spend more than half of our lives in our residences.
Defending yourself in your home, therefore, requires a number of easily implemented techniques.
Habits that leave you vulnerable are easy to break.
Most habits can be broken and new habits formed in as little as 21 days.
Create new habits to protect yourself, your family and your property.
Although in warmer climates it is more comfortable to sleep with the windows open, this invites criminal activity.
Especially if you reside in a lower unit of a multi dwelling apartment house or condominium.
If air flow is necessary, install locking mechanisms on all windows and sliding glass doors.
Leave just enough open space to allow air flow but not enough for someone to gain entry or reach the locking mechanism.
Keep your curtains or blinds closed at night.
It is more difficult to see out with them closed but it is easier to see in with them open.
Trim high plants around windows and doors.
Someone approaching your residence can be concealed by the plants but would be able to see through them into your residence.
Even though you want to keep the curtains or blinds closed at night you do not want to keep them closed when you are not at home.
Many people work during the day so with the curtains and blinds closed a criminal would have complete anonymity inside your residence.
Try to leave blinds and curtains in different positions upon leaving.
By doing this it may confuse a criminal who is trying to pattern the times you are away.
If you live alone, make it appear others live with you.
Add fictional names to your mailbox and at the post office.
If possible only include the first letter of your first name on the mailbox.
Never put a title before your name, as Mr.
Ms.
or Mrs.
Especially Ms.
Not only will this protect your complete identity but you will appear a less easy target.
A self defense situation could be avoided if the perpetrator believes there are numerous people in the residence.