Forensics
Safety Tips
Everyday personal safety tips for staying aware at home, in your car, and when meeting someone you met online.
Personal safety mostly comes down to a few everyday habits: stay aware of what is around you, trust your instincts when something feels off, and keep an easy way out of any situation. Those same habits apply at home, in the car, and when you meet someone you know only from the internet.
The reminders below are general guidance, not a guarantee against crime, and they line up with what police departments and crime-prevention groups tell the public. For related organizations and resources, see our directory of links.
- If you are summoned to stop your car by someone behind you with lights flashing, DO NOT stop until you are in a well-lit, public area. The police understand an unwillingness to stop at night, in a dark, isolated area.
- Beware of "bump & rob" accidents: drivers who deliberately bump someone's car to get them to stop, and then rob them. If this happens to you, do not stop to exchange personal and insurance information until you're in a safe, well lit area.
- Look inside, around and behind your car quickly before getting in. If there's a problem with your vehicle, don't take assistance from anyone standing nearby. He may have sabotaged the car in the first place.
- If you get a flat tire or your car breaks down at night or in a deserted area, stay in your car with windows up and locked. Either call for help or, if someone offers to help, ask him or her through a window to call police or a towing service for you.
- Do not stop to help other motorists. Call the police instead.
- Always have gas in your car. Always have money for a cab or bus.
- Never open your home or apartment door to anyone you do not know or completely trust. Use a peephole to see who is there first.
- Don't allow children to answer the door. They're less cautious.
- If your child answers the telephone, she should never reveal when she's home alone. She should say "(the person you're calling) can't come to the phone right now" and take a message.
- When getting on an elevator, stand near the buttons, and push your floor button only after the others do. If you are suspicious of others, get off immediately.
- Ask anyone giving you a ride not to leave until you are safely inside your building, or until you start your car and drive off.
- If you plan to meet a stranger, like someone from the Internet, or someone you don't completely trust, do so in a public place. ALWAYS have an "angel", a friend who knows the name, address and telephone number of the person you're going to meet. Make sure the person you meet knows this.
Common questions
What should I do if someone tries to pull me over and I feel unsafe?
If you are not sure whether the car signaling you to pull over is really the police, you do not have to stop on a dark or empty road. Turn on your hazard lights so they know you have noticed them, drive at a slow, steady speed to a well-lit, busy area or a police station, and call 911 to confirm the stop is legitimate. Real officers understand this and can verify who they are once you reach a safe spot.
How do I stay safe meeting someone from the internet?
Meet in a public, well-lit place the first few times, and never at your home or theirs. Tell a friend where you are going and who you are meeting, arrange your own transportation so you can leave whenever you want, and talk by phone or video before you meet in person. If anything feels off during the meeting, it is fine to end it early and go.
What should I do if I think a car is following me?
Do not drive home. Keep driving to a public place with people around, such as a busy gas station or a police or sheriff station, and use your phone to call for help. Getting to a lit, populated spot removes the privacy an attacker would need and puts witnesses nearby.
How can I stay safe walking alone at night?
Stick to well-lit, busy routes, walk at a steady, confident pace, and keep your eyes up instead of on your phone so you notice who is around you. Carry a charged phone and let someone know your route. If a place or a person feels wrong, change direction toward people and light and trust that instinct.
Sources
- American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, What to Do When Stopped by Law Enforcement
- City of Atlantis, Florida (Police Department FAQ), What if I am not sure if the car pulling me over is real police?
- Virginia Tech Police Department, Online Dating Safety Tips
- UCLA Police Department, Personal Safety Tips