Gamblewood Community Club

Safety in Gamblewood

Tips for Staying safe when you?’re out and about. . . .

• If you are being followed, Head for the nearest busy, brightly lit area or police or fire station.

• If you regularly go jogging or cycling, try to vary your route and time. Stick to well-lit roads and don’t take shortcuts.

• Walk or jog facing the traffic so a car cannot pull up behind you unnoticed.

• If you carry a purse, hold it close to your body; if a wallet, keep it in your front pocket.

• Don’t display cash or any other inviting targets such as pagers, cell phones or jewelry.

• Don’t hitch-hike or take lifts from strangers.

• Self-defense and safety awareness classes may help you feel more secure.

• Ask your local police or your work if they have classes.

• If other people such as previous tenants could still have keys that fit, change the locks. Don’t give keys to workmen or tradesmen, as they can easily make copies.

• If you wake to hear the sound of an intruder, you may want to lie quietly to avoid attracting attention to yourself, in the hope that they will leave. Or you may feel more confident if you switch on the lights and make a lot of noise by moving about. Even if you’re alone, call out loudly to an imaginary companion. Call the police as soon as it’s safe for you to do so. A telephone extension in your bedroom will make you feel more secure as it allows you to call the police immediately, without alerting the intruder.

• Draw your curtains after dark and if you think there is a prowler outside – dial 911.

• Use only your surname and initials in the telephone directory and on the doorplate. That way a stranger won’t know if a man or a woman lives there.

• If you see signs of a break-in at your home, like a smashed window or open door, don’t go in. Go to a neighbor and call the police.