Cheshire remains a safe place to live and a safe place to be out
and about in, however there are some steps that could be taken to
reduce the risk of becoming the victim of a crime whilst outdoors.
Most of these steps are simply common sense and you probably do a
lot of them already without thinking twice.
- At night try to avoid taking risky shortcuts through back
alleys, parks or waste grounds. Where possible stick to pavements
or well lit areas.
- Walk facing traffic so as you can see what's heading towards
you and so a car cannot pull up behind you unnoticed.
- If you regularly walk home or go out jogging try to vary your
routes (without taking risky shortcuts)
- Wearing earphones is common practice these days and can
make walks or jogging more entertaining, however be aware the
earphones may: appear attractive to potential attackers, damage
your hearing and reduce your alertness to your surroundings.
- If you are carrying a bag make sure the clasp is facing inwars,
all zips are closed correctly and all pockets closed. If your bag
is snatched let it go, your safety is more important than your
property.
- If you have expensive items on you such as jewellery, mobile
phone or personal stereo keep it out of sight.
- If you are threatened by a person, scream and shout, set off a
personal attack alarm to startle the attacker and give you vital
seconds to escape. Try to make note of details such as registration
plates, clothing, height etc. and then report the incident to the
police.