Not an easy victim...

Okay, so now that you know you're a target and why, let's talk about making it harder for someone to "hit" you. This isn't about being afraid. This isn't paranoia. This is about claiming your right to live your life. Everything worthwhile in life takes focus and attention. Your safety and security is no different. While there's no guarantee that you or I or anyone we know and love won't be victim to some horrible event, I believe following a few steps greatly improve our odds.

1. Be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to the people walking by; make sure they see you see them. Most criminals want to surprise you.
2. Travel in alternate routes. Don't be predictable. If you go the same way, every day, you provide information that could leave you, your family or your home vulnerable.
3. If you tend to work later than your counterparts, don't park in dark or isolated areas.
4. The same for traveling alone. Park in well-lit areas with people. Most criminals don't want witnesses.
5. On traveling and social media - even if its just to a local event. Safer to post after the fact than to post live. Countless news reports have been written about the family who returns home from vacation or a day at the fair to find their home ransacked and their possessions stolen simply because they announced they were going and then that they were gone and every other detail of their itinerary on social media.
6. When hiring anyone to work in or around your home, be very careful not to give your trust to them easily.
7. THE MOST IMPORTANT!! Make sure that you have a good communication plan so that the people you love and that love you always have a reasonable idea of where you are and where they are. There should always be someone who will know when something is wrong within hours, NOT DAYS. We call it "knowing when to worry."

These are just a few ways to avoid becoming a victim. There are lots more. Let's face it, criminals are looking for the easy way out. Don't make it easy for them. You might not get justice, like we did, as shown in this photo:

"Walking Between The Raindrops" by Mary and Paul Roland - An American couple's true story of kidnap-for-ransom in the United States as directed by the most vicious drug cartel in Mexico. On sale in paperback and eBook at Amazon.com.

YOU are a target...

Yes, you are. You are either a target or someone looking for a target. I believe its as simple as that. For this post, I'm only going to describe what makes you a target and if one or more of these applies to you...I rest my case:

1. You post on social media where you are, when you're there and who you're with - especially those great vacations.
2. You post personal identifiers on social media about yourself, your family, your job.
3. You take the same route to work or to school or to wherever you regularly go.
4. You don't lock your doors.
5. You don't lock your windows.
6. You leave windows uncovered when you're away or at night.
7. You don't have exterior lighting in key areas or motion sensor lighting outside.
8. You wait until you're at your car to find your keys.
9. You wait until you're at your door to have the door key in hand.
10. You walk in public places reading your phone or texting.
11. You walk in public places looking at the ground.
12. You park your car in areas that are not well-lighted.
13. You go to ATMs (anywhere) at night by yourself.
14. You wear jewelry.
15. You go shopping and, rather than carry items to lock in your car trunk a few at a time (especially during the holidays), you carry too many at once and fumble with keys and bags when you reach your car.
16. You open your door to strangers you aren't expecting and the ones that you are.
17. You employ anyone for anything. (business or personal)
18. You talk to strangers.
19. You travel frequently using public transportation (plane, train, taxi, bus, boat)
20. You work for a person or a corporation.
21. You own a business - small or large.
22. You're related to someone who owns a business.
23. You dress for success.
24. You have children.
25. You have a spouse.
26. You have family.
27. You carry a purse or a wallet.
28. You drive a car.
29. You appear in public at any time, any place.
30. You breathe.

You fit in there somewhere. I know you do. Although YOU are a target, you don't have to be a victim. We know - we wrote a book about learning that.

On sale - Amazon.com

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