| If you're worried about theft, remember that there | | | | your car. Park your car only in well-lit parking lots, |
| are quite a few steps that you can take to minimize | | | | with the windows rolled up and the doors locked. |
| the possibility that you will become the target of | | | | Don't park your car for extended periods in areas |
| thieves or burglars, whether in your home, when | | | | that may be vulnerable to car thefts, such as empty |
| walking outdoors, or in your car. | | | | and isolated parking lots. Never use a hide-a-key |
| To keep your home safe from theft, make the | | | | system or leave the keys in your vehicle. |
| exterior as uninviting for burglars as possible. Install | | | | Theft can also happen when you're simply out and |
| adequate exterior lighting, such as motion-activated | | | | about. To prevent personal attacks motivated by a |
| spotlights. Don't plant large bushes or leave other | | | | desire to steal your belongings, avoid wearing |
| hiding places near doors or windows. Always keep | | | | expensive jewelry or designer clothing, particularly if |
| doors and windows locked, and protect them with | | | | you'll be walking alone at night. Take off your |
| burglar alarms. These can be installed around your | | | | headphones and put your MP3 player away so that |
| whole home, or just in the windows that seem | | | | you can pay attention to your surroundings. Carry a |
| vulnerable to burglars. Keep curtains closed on | | | | stun gun, pepper spray, or another self defense |
| windows, especially those on the ground floor, so | | | | product to stop attacks. |
| that potential burglars can't see what you have. | | | | In all of these places, you should be worried about |
| Consider dummy cameras to make potential burglars | | | | identity theft in addition to the loss of your |
| believe that their every movement is being recorded. | | | | possessions. Never keep all of your forms of |
| Keep pepper spray canisters, stun guns, or other self | | | | identification together. Instead, keep them in |
| defense products in your home in case a burglar | | | | separate locations so that if one should be stolen, |
| does break in. | | | | the thief does not have all of your forms of ID. Most |
| Inside the home, place any valuables, including | | | | of these important papers should be kept in a |
| expensive jewelry, irreplaceable paperwork, and | | | | security safe in your home. Shred important papers |
| firearms, inside a locked safe. Smaller items can be | | | | when you're done with them, and learn about online |
| kept in a diversion safe, which is shaped to look like a | | | | methods of identity theft so that you can avoid |
| pop can or other everyday item. These can even be | | | | them. |
| kept in your car to keep valuables safe from thieves. | | | | No matter where you are, your security should never |
| To prevent car thefts, consider an anti-theft device. | | | | be taken for granted. At any moment, a thief could |
| Some simply sound an alarm if your car is broken | | | | break into your home or vehicle, or attack you in |
| into, while others have GPS tracking devices to | | | | person. By taking these steps to minimize your risks, |
| recover your stolen vehicle. No matter what type of | | | | and carrying self defense products to help you fight |
| theft deterrent alarm you choose, always apply the | | | | back, you can protect your safety and your |
| window sticker to warn thieves not to attack your | | | | belongings from attack. |
| car. Place all valuables in the trunk when you exit | | | | |