Practice, Practice, Practice

Yes, this technique will get you to Carnegie Hall, but it’s also necessary for every lifesaving technique. Most Humans when in situations that cause them to experience extreme stress, panic or fright may not be able to “keep their heads”, stay cool and focus on the steps necessary to resolve or deal with the situation.  Our natural instinct will cause our heart to pound, our bloodstream gets flooded with adrenaline, our senses are impaired, and our minds are adrift in emotions that grip us so that we can’t think clearly.

 Imagine if a fire broke out in you home in the middle of the night, and your family has a fire plan, but was never rehearsed. Most often than not, panic will ensue, and you and your family may or may not get out alive.  If you have a family fire plan you should rehearse it twice a year. So that in the even of a fire, you will you will know what to do.

 The same works concept works with self defense. Now matter what you purchase to protect yourself with, or what techniques you have learned you need to practice it to have it be part of your responses. A simple technique of a mom and a child to learn in a situation is when the need arises for the mother to step in front of the child to put the child out of the frame of reference. Then the mother (or father) keeps eye contact with the perpetrator and talk the whole time. While the perpetrator is concentrating on the parent, the child can easily slip away to get assistance, and out of harms way. The parent and the child need to practice this technique so that it can  be effective. The parent and the child need to set up code phrases such as “Don’t harm my child” or “Leave us alone we don’t have nothing”. Upon hearing this the child should know what to do. However this technique is almost useless unless it is practiced over and over, so that it becomes second nature for both the parent and the child.

 If you purchase pepper spray, or a stun gun, or learn self defense martial arts, you will need to take the time to practice to know what to do when the need arises.

 

 By Victor Swindell, owner of PepperEyes.com, a division of Swindell Enterprises. PepperEyes.com is dedicated to assist those people who are unwilling to become a victim and are taking responsibility to protect themselves, their cars, or their possessions .In today’s society being equipped mentally and physically is no longer an option.

Jogging and Running Safety Tip – Carry Pepper Spray

What are some great ways to protect yourself from rustlers, cutthroats, murders, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con-men, hecklers, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglars, horse thieves, bull-dykes, rapist, train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, sh**-kickers, and dirtbags while your out jogging?

 

1. Be Mindful of your surroundings – If traveling on business or vacation, before setting out on your morning or evening jog, inquire about the area.
2. Avoid running/jogging at night, definitely avoid Friday and Saturday nights.- Because of daylight savings time, the sun may not rise as early. Thus, it’s still dark at 6 and 7 in morning. An early morning jog can be tempting; however, it’s not safe. Wait until the sun rises.
   There are far too many social deviants or druken preverts driving around just looking for something or someone to do. If practical, jog after sunrise. Most scumbags, deadbeats, thugs and slugs, will still be in bed, or just crawling into one. 
3. Trust Your instincts – If you see people ahead who look like trouble or you get a ‘bad feeling’,  be afe and not sorry and take a safe detour, or turn around and retrace your course.
4. Be aware of hiding places and blind corners.
5. If possible don’t jog alone. 
6. Carry pepper spray  and KNOW how to use it.

By Victor Swindell, owner of PepperEyes.com, a division of Swindell Enterprises. PepperEyes.com is dedicated to assist those people who are unwilling to become a victim and are taking responsibility to protect themselves, their cars, or their possessions .In today’s society being equipped mentally and physically is no longer an option.

Bonneau, SC resident tired of criminals taking his stuff

I first saw this story on Live 5 news, and this news is just indicative of what is happening in small town America. The Mayberry’s of America are having major issues with gangs, and rising crimes. Bonneau, SC is a small town community that is dealing with a string of burglaries for several months. In 2000  Bonneau, SC had a personal crime rate of 174 per 10,000 residents and 174 property crimes per 10,000 residents.

However, 2009 paints a different picture of this once small and peaceful community.  In June 2009 Berkley county had an unemployment rate of 11.3 % according to the Employers Association of South Carolina, Inc.  The unemployment and bed economy in  these uncertain times are causing a rise in crime. Bank robberies use to be rare, now their frequency has seemed to increases. The same has happen with property crimes. I know of subdivision in Dorchester county that have had a rash of break-ins.  In the story that was reported, citizens in Bonneau are just ‘fed up’ with their homes being burglarized, and they want this crime spree to end. Criminals are breaking into their homes and stealing valuables and personal stuff that they worked hard purchase. They are not only taking stuff out of homes but building materials such as lumber and tools from sites.

 One man has been a repeat victim who says he’s fed up, and ready for something to change. ”Well, not only me, but other people are being burglarized in their homes, taking valuables and all personal stuff,” the victim, who asked not to be identified, said.

 The problem has grown so bad that citizens feel that have to say in their homes in order to prevent being robbed. Citizen patrols and neighborhood watches have increased, but for those who live in a more rural setting, other actions need to be taken. The man in the story has gotten surveillance equipment in order to catch the criminals.

 Please review my blog on Home Break-in for additional tips and techniques for safeguarding your home. In addition to that information it is also important that you keep pictures, and records of your property including the make, model and serial number of each item. You can also invest in some property marking tools so that you can identify your items later, if they are stolen.

By Victor Swindell, owner of PepperEyes.com, a division of Swindell Enterprises. PepperEyes.com is dedicated to assist those people who are unwilling to become a victim and are taking responsibility to protect themselves, their cars, or their possessions with our pepper spray, stun guns, and other personal protection products.

Don’t Make Yourself a Target

Who is listening to your conversation

 How many times have you been in line at a store and heard someone telling private information that could get them in trouble? Have you ever heard someone say their husband was out of town for a week on a business trip or in the case of military wives, heard them discussing their husband’s deployment or other sensitive information. Sometimes the conversation is with someone in the store, or it’s a phone conversation. With the wide use of cell phones and blue tooth devices, some people have seem to become unaware that they are broadcasting details of their lives for all to hear. If you’ve heard these types of conversations, chances are that other people heard it as well, including potential criminals. These people have just unknowing told a stranger who just happened to hear their conversation is “Hey I’m Home Alone.” They did not mean to do this intentionally, but people who do this have just put themselves and their families in potential danger. Never let just anyone know that you are home alone. It is suggested that you do tell someone whom you trust, so that they can check in on you from time to time. However, if you are at the neighborhood store and have a conversation with the clerk who knows you and knows your husband is deployed. That is not a good place to discuss this topic with all of those potential ears listening. Let us just say for example you are at the corner store and you do tell Susie the clerk that your spouse is out of town on a business trip for the week, or that your husband has been deployed and you will not see them for a year. Little did you know that standing in aisle three was the local low life, Joe Blow? He heard the clerk call you Mrs. Smith. He leaves a ahead of you and gets into his car and waits for you come out so that he can see your car, get your license plate, or even follow you so see where you live. Perhaps he waits for you to open the front door and then come up behind you and pushes you in the house.

Those wives of military service men also need to be careful on what displays you have in your yard. Since the 1970’s the song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” prompted those waiting for their soldiers to return from War, to put a display in their yard, indicating that their loved one as been deployed. It also indicates to a would be criminal “Single woman, home alone.” Those women who are doing this are unconsciously making themselves potential crime targets. What is suggested is that you just fly the American Flag for your service member. Since September 11, displaying the American Flag is real common. If you live in a subdivision, you can ask your HOA if they can do a community display for those who are deployed. Now seeing yellow ribbon ties around a tree in your front yard, is no real indication that you are home alone. After all it could be your child that is in the military. Most criminals will watch your house to see who comes and goes.

According to the Department of Justice and FBI Crime statistics one burglary happens every 15 seconds in the United States. Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Every 6 minutes, someone in the U.S. is raped. Every 34 minutes, someone in the U.S. is murdered. If someone you don’t know, knows your home alone you may find yourself as a member of these statistics. According to these same statistics women are targeted more then men. If you are home alone, please take all the necessary steps to secure your home. There are lots of web site and blogs such as this one which give lots of tips of things you can do to make your home more secure.

By Victor Swindell, owner of PepperEyes.com, a division of Swindell Enterprises. PepperEyes.com is dedicated to assist those people who are unwilling to become a victim and are taking responsibility to protect themselves, their cars, or their possessions with our pepper spray, stun guns, and other personal protection products.

Your Alarm system can be compromised.

The other day my friend Dave had received a flyer from his home security system advertising their new wireless/cellular system.

He’s been thinking about changing over because of just the uncertainly of having a system tied in to the phone system. When he called  his security system to inquire about the switch over cost her was of course told the benefits, but he was also told of  a disturbing tend among the criminal world. As I mentioned in my home invasion series, thieves are less likely to target homes with home security systems. Some thieves are being a bit bold.  They are finding ways to deactivate the security systems or at least prevent them from functioning. The thieves are now cutting lines to the home’s electricity or phone service — or both.

What the crooks tend to do is go to the front door and knock to see if anyone is at home. If someone is home they may just ask for directions.  If no one answers the door they go to the side of the house and cut the lines and then go around back and kick the door in, then burglarize the place. If you happen to have a privacy fence, you are helping to hide their deeds. You may want to strongly consider changing your fence type.

 

Imagine coming home to find wires dangling from the side of your house. The inside of your home is ransacked.  Your WII, computer, flat screen, and wife’s jewelry are all gone.  Your castle would no longer fell secure and safe. Please take the necessary steps to make your home more secure.

 

Here are the recommended security upgrades.

• Make sure their alarm systems have a working backup battery. 
• If your alarm companies offers wireless uplinks which ensure that your system will contact the alarm company even if the phone line is down, switch as soon as possible.
• Add additional countermeasures that make your home harder to access. There are devices like the Strike Master II and the Door Club which make it harder if not impossible for them to kick your door in.

 

For the would-be-thieves, this line-cutting scheme could also backfire on them. Many alarm systems automatically notify the alarm company when the wires are cut, and most new systems have backup batteries to power them if electricity is interrupted.

Burglars also face the risk of electrocution, if they cut the lines the wrong way. (which would be justice in my opinion)

 

Just two days ago, Dave found out that at least 5 homes in his subdivision had been broken into this way. He’s upgrading his system as I type.

 

By Victor Swindell, owner of PepperEyes.com, a division of Swindell Enterprises. PepperEyes.com is dedicated to assist those people who are unwilling to become a victim and are taking responsibility to protect themselves, their cars, or their possessions with our pepper spray, stun guns, and other personal protection products.