January 29, 12:55 PM
While no one can truly assure your safety, there are a number of steps that you can take to help you avoid problems and make yourself feel more comfortable in any situation.
The first and most important thing is to always be aware. Awareness of your whereabouts and the goings on around you is the key to helping you be more safe. When walking to your apartment from your car or vice versa, always have you keys out and ready.
For added safety, try to vary the time that you arrive home everyday to throw off possible burglars from knowing when you will consistently be home or not. Once you get home, make sure to lock your locks. That's what they are there for. You may also look into getting a can of pepper spray and attach it to your key chain. Sure it will make your keys big and bulky, but it can also deter any trouble.
When parking, always park in well lit areas and look around before getting out of your vehicle. Also, double-check underneath your car and the backseat before jumping in.
While many apartments offer limited-access gates and an on-site courtesy patrol, they are really there to deter minor criminal activity (think vandalism and teenagers out joyriding around the apartments at 4 a.m.) than violent crimes, etc. Think of it this way—could a courtesy patrol hear you if you screamed in apartment #102 and he was near apartment #1603? Doubtful. And all of us have had a run-in (or near run-in) with the gates just following some friend into another apartment community.
Remember though, NONE of these things can absolutely assure your safety, but being aware and choosing to make your decisions and actions safe ones may help.
Don’t be afraid…be aware.
PS- If you want to be extra safe, check out this stun gun that is shaped like a cell phone. Cell Phone Stun Gun