Worry less about your possessions when going out with these safety tips

A good time can turn, in a matter of seconds, into a nightmare straight from a movie directed by Wes Craven if one is not paying close attention to your surroundings.

Preventing yourself from being a victim of crime is the number one priority aside from staying alive when going out and having a good time.

The festive season brought a lot of positive factors that ranged from spending quality time with families and friends, taking the load off from work, finding time to relax and going out, however, the festive season did come with its negative factors, mostly in the form of criminal activities. It does not matter if a victim is in an environment that is considered to be safe or not, criminals are opportunists at heart.

Station Commander of the Sandton police, Brigadier Egen Moodley, highlighted some key tips on how to make sure your personal items were safe and secure from theft. Moodley advised that people should not wear expensive accessories when out in public as it would most likely attract criminals.

“Cellphones should not be carried in your hand when in public places since criminals usually approach their targets from behind, grab the cellphones and jump into a car and drive off,” he said. “If you go out to restaurants, house functions or to the movies, please ensure that you keep your personal belongings with you and not leave them on tables. It will tempt criminals to easily grab the items.”

He advised people to have fun responsibly, avoid crowded areas and remain safe at all times.