How Women Who Live Alone Stay Safe

Just because you are a women doesn’t mean that you’ll become the victim of a crime, however, you are often a target, especially if you live alone. If you’re the type who enjoys living by themselves, you should listen really listen up. There are some things that you can do to improve the odds of not being victimized. At Star Norfolk Locksmith in Norfolk, VA, we really appreciate the women who depend on us for their service needs and we want you to remain safe at all times. This is why we have put together this article. The suggestions here will help you remain safe.

Statistics

Women living alone have a .5% of experiencing a burglary

Most intrusions happened during the day

Women have a .4% chance of experiencing a violent crime

Women have a .1$ of being robbed

Living Alone

We are finding more and more people living alone these days. Actually, we have noticed this since the mid-90’s. There are so many different reasons we find people living by themselves, children graduating school, buying first home, divorce and even some children being asked to leave. There is absolutely nothing wrong with living alone; however, it can pose a number of threats to your security. You must simply be aware of this and make sure you are careful when coming and going.

Don’t Tell Too Much

By giving other people the perception that you live with someone else is not a bad idea. You don’t have to lie about your living situation but no one has to actually know that you live by yourself. When others know that you live alone, it leaves you susceptible to break-ins. If you live alone, a would-be-intruder may begin to case your home to find out when you’re home and when you are away. Posting too much information on social media can also leave you susceptible, for the same reason. If someone knows that you live alone and you’re constantly posting your vacation pictures and letting others know that you’re going on vacation, this leaves your home wide open for an intrusion. This is the opportunity that an intruder is looking for. The wiser course would be to post your pics once you’ve returned home and make sure you post the date of your trip so that others know it was in the past. Posting the date will let others know that you’re home. When you live in an apartment building, always make it appear as though someone is home. Instead of listing your name on your mailbox, why not use the term ‘residence’. This gives the appearance that you do not live by yourself. Just because you have friends who know you live alone doesn’t mean that you should advertise this to others. If they don’t ask, then you shouldn’t voluntarily offer up this information.

Get Yourself a Pet

Dogs are not only cute and fun they can also be a source of protection. This might be a problem if you are allergic to dogs but if you’re not; it would be one of the most logical things that a single women can do to deter a possible intruder. Even when you can’t be home, your dog will be there. This decreases the possibility of someone breaking into your home when you’re not there. All that a dog needs to do is bark in order to scare off an intruder. If you like remotely, this is especially a good idea. Even if you don’t necessarily like dogs, they are a great source of protection, especially for women.

Tell a Friend

If your close friends and family are made aware of your coming and going, at least they can keep a lookout on you. You can inform them of your travel plans and when you are planning on returning. That way, if they see any suspicious activity around your home, they can act quickly to notify the appropriate authorities. It’s not a bad idea to make friends with other people in your neighborhood or complex. They can also keep an eye on things for you while you away. If they know you, they are more likely to keep an eye on things for you than if they don’t know you.

House Sitters

Just because you live in an apartment complex doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from a house sitter. This prevents anyone from ever knowing that you are not home. It is also a good idea to allow someone that you know and trust to work from your home when you are away. This means that other people will never know when someone is at your home or not if it looks like there is always someone around. Another advantage to a house sitter is that you’ll have someone there who can feed the dog while you are away. The more you have someone visibly in your home, the least likely you are to experience a break-in.

Keeping the Shades Down

Make sure to keep all of your window coverings closed at night. When your shades are wide open, it lets intruders know where everyone is located inside your home at any given time. They are also able to see more clearly, what you have inside. An intruder shouldn’t know what there is that they can get from inside your home. If they do, and they find that you have something of value to them, they might make a victim. Always make sure that you stand outside your home to make sure no one can see directly inside your home, in the morning or at night.

We hope we have presented you with some information that you’ll put to good use if you are a female living alone. These are some practical ways of protecting yourself and your valuables at all times. If you have ever experienced a break-in, we are certain that you will find this information useful. You don’t have to do them all but it certainly can’t hurt.

Aricle source here: How Women Who Live Alone Stay Safe

Benefits Of A Home Safe

Having a safe at home is NOT just for “the rich folk!” Far from it! People from all income levels can enjoy better protection and security for their valuables by having a residential safe installed or added to their home. Whether you have piles of cash lying around or want a secured place for your important documents or collectibles, a sturdy home safe is always good to have.

What’s In Your Safe?

Star Norfolk Locksmith installs home safes in all areas of town. You can call our shop or your favorite Norfolk, VA locksmith crew and get all of your questions answered and the right safe for your needs installed. You can literally put anything you like into your residential safe for protection. Some of the items our customers secure include cash, jewelry, real estate appraisals and titles, receipts, tax returns, treasured heirlooms, family photos, stock certificates, bonds, collectibles and even guns! Your safe not only protects your valuables from theft, it also can secure them against fire, flood, wind, dust and even nosy relatives and espionage!

Cash – that proverbial “rainy day” can come at any time! You’ve heard the saying “cash is king?” Well, it’s often true! Having fast access to real money is never a bad thing! The amount on hand at home is up to you; everyone’s needs are different. Our Star Norfolk Locksmith crew always tells customers to put aside any amount they feel comfortable saving. While we don’t ask you to become a “prepper” it is nice to have some money when the local ATM is down or it’s raining and you don’t feel like tackling the slick roads just to get your hands on some cash. Fast cash is always good to have around. You can use it for tipping the pizza guy, handyman expenses, paying the landscaper, emergency pluming problems, pet issues, dental care, charity donations, tax bills, fast food orders, auto repairs, and even for funeral expenses!

Weapons – this can be a touchy subject but for many having access to a gun or other firearms is essential for good home security. You can keep a gun in just about any decent sized home safe and a designated gun cabinet/safe can also be used. Our Star Norfolk Locksmith shop offers sales, service and installation of gun safes from the best manufacturers. Having a loaded weapon lying around is NOT smart. Accidental shootings involving children or other family members are more likely to happen this way. Don’t take chances with your weapons; secure all guns in a proper safe or cabinet!

Jewelry – you don’t have to have the Star of India in order to protect your jewelry. Both men and women can secure their valuable watches, rings, necklaces and bracelets in a locking safe. While you are at it, appraisals and receipts for that same jewelry can be stored and protected along with the gems. Often, investment grade stones of all kinds as well as watch collections and estate jewelry are kept in a residential safe.

Papers – many of our Norfolk, VA customers store important documents in their home safes. It’s nice knowing exactly where you bank books, passport, and birth certificates are all kept. Add to those appraisals, real estate documents, car titles, insurance papers, tax returns and even credit report print outs. If you have stock certificates or art appraisals these too can be included. Family heirlooms and old photographs can also be safeguarded this way. Many times technology like flash drives, hard drives and software find protection inside the family home safe.

Some Concerns

Star Norfolk Locksmith offers free consultations to our local customers and some of the questions we get asked involve safes for home use. Some wonder if the safe will make them a target for home invasion or burglary. The important thing to stress is to be discreet about your safe. If you constantly brag about what’s IN your safe, then yes, you might become a target. You really don’t have to tell everyone you know about your safe and what you keep in it. Yes, safes are rather conspicuous but that doesn’t have to be the case. You don’t need a Brinks Guard standing next to it all day! Be discreet and place your safe in an accessible location in your home but not prominently displayed. You can also get a wall safe that is hidden behind a bookcase or a picture frame. Floor safes are NOT just for restaurant use; many homeowners have us install them at their homes. These can be hidden beneath furniture or under a rug. The location of your safe and the model you wind up adding depends much on your security needs. If you “bury” the safe under heavy furniture or in a safe room that is hard to access, then you shouldn’t add contents to it that you might need in a hurry like a weapon!

Where To Buy

If you’ve read this far, you are probably thinking of adding a home safe. Like anything else, some smart shopping is needed. Prices range from discount rates to ultra-expensive, and everything in-between. You can go to estate sales and sometimes get a real bargain. You may need an experienced locksmith to get your newly acquired safe open if it’s sealed and has no combination. National stores like Target, Sears and Wal-Mart offer a small variety of safes and you check online at EBay, Amazon and Craigslist for both new and used safes. It’s always wise to ask about shipping, installation, warranty coverage, spare parts and key codes or combinations. Read reviews and ask questions! Safe stores are generally more expensive than just calling a local, fully certified locksmith shop like Star Norfolk Locksmith were we offer premium quality sales, service and installation at the best rates and with your satisfaction guaranteed. Be choosy about selecting your home safe; after all, it will protect items that really matter to you! We cheerfully invite you to call our shop and get any questions you may have answered by our in-house safe professionals!

Aricle source here: Benefits Of A Home Safe