| He was waiting for her when she got off work. It was | | | | one moment when you later think "what if I had just |
| late, dark. She was tired and just wanted to get home | | | | been more careful?" |
| and get some sleep. She glanced around as she | | | | Taking safety precautions when you live alone is a |
| headed for her car but didn't notice anything out of the | | | | matter of developing good habits like locking the door |
| ordinary. So she slid into the driver's seat, shook off | | | | when you're home alone, keeping curtains drawn at |
| the day's grievances, and headed home. He pulled out | | | | night, making sure windows are locked before going to |
| from his parking spot and discretely followed at a | | | | bed, being attentive to your surroundings. |
| distance. He had followed her home many times and | | | | If you don't have a dog, get an electronic barking dog |
| he knew where she lived, that she always went | | | | that you can set to guard your home at night or when |
| straight home and lived alone, had no dogs, always | | | | you are away. These devices can "see" through |
| followed the same procedure of parking, walking to | | | | bricks, wood, glass, even cement to alert any intruder |
| the mailbox without looking around, then | | | | that you have a very large vicious dog just waiting to |
| absent-mindedly walking to her front door glancing at | | | | rip him to pieces should he step foot in your home. |
| her bills and junk mail. He knew her routine and | | | | Even someone who has been stalking you and knows |
| tomorrow night he would be waiting for her. | | | | you don't have a dog, will be surprised by the sudden |
| Too many times we women get complacent about | | | | noise coming from inside the house and will have |
| our surroundings, our coming and going without really | | | | second thoughts. No intruder wants to be alerted to his |
| paying attention. We've never been attacked or even | | | | presence. |
| threatened, so why would today be any different? We | | | | Another precaution to take when you live alone is |
| can't always see the dangers lurking, but we can be | | | | installing some kind of home security system. There |
| prepared if they should materialize. | | | | are several different types on the market from very |
| First of all, don't always do everything the same as far | | | | expensive systems that are monitored by a company |
| as driving routines, walking or jogging times and routes, | | | | who will be alerted if the alarm goes off to less |
| trips to the mailbox, the store, the dog park. Change it | | | | expensive systems you can easily install yourself. |
| up. Take different routes, go at different times, drive a | | | | They are all very effective, setting off a loud alarm |
| different route home from work, stop for groceries or | | | | when a presence is sensed by a motion detector, or |
| run errands. Don't always go home first and then run | | | | when someone tries to break through a door or |
| errands. You don't know who might be watching from | | | | window. |
| a distance, making mental notes, waiting for the right | | | | Having pepper spray on hand either in your car, in your |
| moment to attack. | | | | purse or pocket or someplace handy inside the home |
| When you're walking to and from your front or back | | | | is another self-defense option and precaution that |
| door or garage, keep your head up and your eyes and | | | | should be considered. Anyone who has forcibly |
| ears alert to any movement or sound that is not | | | | entered your home by any means will live to regret it |
| normal. The mail can wait until you're safe inside. The | | | | when he is sprayed full in the face by the pepper |
| worries on your mind or plans for the weekend can | | | | spray you just happened to have attached to your |
| wait until you're safe inside. Once you're inside, lock the | | | | back pocket. Temporary blindness and desperate |
| door immediately, especially if at night. If your arms are | | | | attempts to get air into his lungs will give you time to |
| full of groceries, put your foot against the door to hold | | | | escape and call police. |
| it shut until you can set the groceries down and lock it. | | | | Living alone definitely has its good and bad points, but |
| Someone could be right behind you ready to push his | | | | the main thing to remember is that you are the only |
| way in if you aren't alert and careful and prepared. | | | | one in control of your own safety. There are enough |
| If this sounds a little overboard and impractical, consider | | | | precautions you can take to ensure that safety so |
| the fact that it only takes one instant to change your | | | | that being afraid to live alone should never have to be |
| life forever. Do you want to risk that one instant? That | | | | a reason for not living alone. |