Have you ever wondered what to do if you are attacked or become a victim of crime?
“Unfortunately, we live in an increasingly violent society where such crimes are a reality,” said Jason Mordecai, managing director of Seven Arrows Security.
“It is, therefore, vital for men and women to lift their heads out of the sand and pay attention to what is going on around them.”
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He further encouraged the community to make their personal safety their number one priority.
He shared several safety tips for the community to keep in mind when they are out and about:
• Awareness is self-defence:
Being aware of your surroundings is ultimately one of the best self-defence mechanisms one could have.
“Distraction is often what attackers count on, and if you are aware this will most definitely make your attacker less likely to be able to take advantage,” said Mordecai.
• It is exactly what you think it is:
Trust your instincts, your intuition does not lie.
“If you feel something does not seem right, walk the other way and remove yourself from the situation,” said Mordecai.
Community members are encouraged to always report suspicious activity to either their security company or the SAPS.
• Make eye contact:
“Let others know you have noticed and seen them. It is harder for someone to surprise you if they know you have seen them,” said Mordecai.
• Find your travel buddy:
Do not visit places such as parks and cemeteries on your own. Rather ask a friend or a family member to go with you.
• Don’t isolate yourself:
Choose an area that is well populated and frequently used.
Avoid solitary areas, especially highly vegetated areas that prevent you from visually assessing movement around you.
Situate yourself in a location where you can easily spot danger.
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• Rules rule:
Set some ground rules for your children.
“Explain where they may and may not go, and create a visual perimeter,” he explained.
“Nominate a rendezvous point in case they get lost and give them a verbal command that means they must come back to you immediately.”
• Leave your valuables at home:
People without valuables present a much smaller target to opportunistic criminals.
• Be social media savvy:
Do not update your every location on social media platforms.
“Criminals do not need to get invited by their victims to places.
“By sharing too much information about your whereabouts you can make yourself an easy target,” said Mordecai.
• Defend yourself:
“If someone tries to grab you, twist your arm up and down and yell, ‘Stop’.
“Do anything you can to draw attention to yourself,” advised Mordecai.
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