7 Safety Tips For Walking Around In Unfamiliar Areas
Finding yourself in an unfamiliar area can be a scary experience, especially if you aren’t sure whether that area receives a large amount of crime or not. Regardless of the safety rating in a particular area, anybody can be the victim of a crime which is why it’s so important to take the proper steps to keep yourself safe in public. Each of the tips below will help a person stay more aware of their situation while also reducing the chance they put themselves in a poor situation.
What Are The Odds Of Being A Victim Of Crime?
The rate of victimization of a crime has decreased drastically over the last couple of decades, but it still isn’t zero. To put numbers to it, the rate of violent victimization in 1993 was 79.8 per 1,000 people, whereas it now stands at around 16.5 victimizations per 1,000 people. This simply means that, on average, for every 1,000 people in a room, 16.5 have been the victim of a violent crime.
7 Ways To Be Safer In New Public Areas
While a violent crime victimization rate of 16.5 per 1,000 may not seem like a large figure, it doesn’t mean that a person will not be a victim of crime. Learning how to reduce your personal risk of being involved in a neighborhood crime or city crime is crucial. Utilize each of the following seven tips:
1. Avoid Walking By Yourself In Hidden Areas
It may seem like an easy tip on the surface to avoid walking in hidden areas by yourself, but in an unfamiliar setting, it can be easy to take a wrong turn on a street. Always study the area you’re in so you know what to expect when walking around to avoid finding yourself in an alley or unlit area. Additionally, ask trusted locals, such as hotel concierges, which streets to avoid and why.
2. Always Have An Emergency Cab Fare On Hand
While the general advice when walking around in an unknown area is to not carry any money on your person, it’s a smart idea to keep a small amount for a cab fare. This way, should you find yourself in a poor area of town, you can get a cab instead of having to walk out of the area by yourself.
3. Walk Around With Confidence As If You Know Where You Are
Confidence won’t always stop a crime, but it has been proven that criminals are less likely to choose a victim if that potential victim has their head up, on a swivel, and is walking with confidence. Avoid keeping your head low and slinking down into yourself as you walk.
4. Keep Your Hands Visible And Empty
To criminals, hands inside pockets could be holding something such as a wallet or trying to hide something valuable. Instead, walk around with your hands clearly visible and empty. Even if you have a wallet or phone, do not pull them out unless absolutely necessary, as these can make a person a target.
5. Avoid Being Intoxicated To The Point You Cannot Control Yourself
Being on vacation is always a fun experience, but it’s important not to have too much fun when you are in a new area. Being intoxicated can quickly lead to poor decisions such as taking a wrong turn on a street and running into trouble, so always drink in moderation if you are going to partake.
6. Tell Others Where You Will Be At
Letting your friends and family know what your plans are is always an excellent idea so that if something does happen to you, the authorities know where to start. Additionally, it’s just a good idea, in general, to ensure that somebody always has your location in the event of an emergency unrelated to yourself.
7. Remain Calm
Finally, if you should find yourself being robbed at gunpoint or via knife, comply with your attacker and provide them with your wallet or any other valuables they request. Items can be replaced, but your life cannot. In this situation, it is always best to comply.
The Bottom Line
The fact of the matter is that being a victim of a crime is luck of the draw. While the majority of people have never been a victim in their lives, it doesn’t mean they should be walking around in unfamiliar areas believing that it won’t happen to them. Use all of the above tips to keep yourself, and others you’re with, safe when in an unfamiliar environment.
