By Michael Johnson
As we draw closer to the holiday season, you can feel the joy and laughter in the air. The kids are excited for Christmas to come and see what is under the tree. Families get together to celebrate, enjoy the company, and take a break from the hectic lives that we all have.
Unfortunately, those Hallmark movies we love to watch and make us feel good, are tainted by people who want to do others wrong. This could be in the form of violence or stealing something that we cherish because they are allowed to do so.
Imagine this, you are doing that last-minute Christmas shopping at your local retailer, it is late at night, and you are checking out of the store. You notice that the crowd has dwindled to just a few individuals. As you leave the store, you see it is dark and low lighting in the area. When you arrived earlier, the parking lot was full, so you had to park towards the back of the parking lot. As you start walking, you hear someone following behind you. As you start walking faster, the footsteps behind you pick up also. Your cart is full, and your purse is sitting on the front rack. As you near your vehicle, you feel a presence behind you and you feel someone breathing behind your neck, you reach into your purse, fumbling for your keys, and at that point, you feel an arm grab you around your neck………What would you do?
This is a true-life scenario. Could it have been avoided? So many people think to themselves, “This wouldn’t happen to me.” Unfortunately, in this day and age, society has become much more violent, and these things do happen. How can we avoid something like this? In this scenario, here are some things that you could do differently, that could change the outcome:
- During the holiday (or anytime) if possible, shop with someone, especially at night.
- If you can, ask an employee if they will walk you to your car.
- If you walk to your car, have your phone out and open so you can call 9-1-1.
- Keep your keys in your hand, as they make a valuable weapon.
- ALWAYS remember, if something does not feel right, go with that sense and rethink your next steps to avoid putting yourself in unnecessary danger.
The holiday season unfortunately brings out the predators. They know that people are out spending more money to purchase gifts for family and friends. They know that people will carry more money in their person, so they are looking for that easy “mark.”
Below are a few tips you can put into practice and keep yourself safe, not only through the holidays but throughout the year.
- Always ensure that you are looking around for anyone who looks suspicious. Have you ever felt nervous after withdrawing money from the ATM or inside banking? What did you do to help prevent theft? You probably hid your PIN number from others to see or you tried not to be obvious on the amounts that you withdrew. Have you heard of jugging? This is where criminals loiter around banks or ATMs. They watch their victims withdraw money and wait for the opportune time to rob that person. They will watch the individual and may follow them on foot or in a vehicle. There have been many cases around the country where a victim withdrew money and left it in the vehicle. The thief would wait until they went into a store or restaurant and then break into the vehicle and steal the cash. Always ensure that you are looking around for anyone who looks suspicious. If you feel that something is wrong, stay in a public area with people around you. Be cautious when moving to other locations as that is when you are most vulnerable.
- Secure large gifts in a location out of site. Little Johnny wants that specific toy or video game machine for Christmas, make sure that if you buy gifts large or small, you secure them in your trunk or a location out of site. The bad guys are looking for easy targets and gifts are enticing as well as easy to grab from your vehicle.
- Personal Awareness is important! Stay vigilant in crowded areas, shopping malls, and public gatherings. Be aware of staring at your phone too much as criminals often target individuals that appear to not be cognizant of their surroundings.
- Be careful of posting your location. What could be worse than having all the presents stolen while you’re at a party on the 23rd? Crying children. Whining dog. Unforgettable. So be careful of letting everyone on Facebook know you’ll be out Thursday night and don’t set the alarm because “It’s so inconvenient.” Also think about closing your blinds where you have your wrapped gifts to be less enticing.
- Do not keep boxes outside. If you have boxes out by the road or trash can, that are from large TVs or game consoles, that lets someone know those items are contained in the house. Try to break them down or take them directly to a recycling location.
- Schedule deliveries for times you are at home. Package theft can be prevented by scheduling deliveries for times you are at home or use secure pickup locations to avoid porch privacy. Alternatively, install a video doorbell or security camera.
- Avoid cyber threats. When shopping online, use secure, trusted websites and be aware of scam ads on social media. To protect against cyber threats and identity theft, try to avoid using public Wi-Fi when making purchases.
- Have a plan. During large gatherings or public events, upon arrival identify emergency exits and keep a personal safety plan. If possible, travel with a group.
- ALWAYS have a designated driver. Nothing could ruin the holidays more than having an accident or spending time in jail and then dealing with all the costs associated with a DWI like fines and attorney fees. An average DWI will cost somewhere around $10,000.
Blood Alcohol Level Chart
When you consume alcohol, your blood alcohol content level (BAC) rises. Many factors impact your blood alcohol level including your gender and your body weight. The chart below shows your likely BAC based on the number of drinks you consumed.
For purposes of this table, one drink equals:
- 1 volume ounce of 100-proof alcohol
- 1 12-ounce bottle of beer
- 5 ounces of table wine
Your body also metabolizes alcohol over time, so your BAC will begin to fall once you have stopped consuming a drink. If time has passed, you can subtract a set amount from your BAC. Here’s how much you can subtract:
- 1 hour from last drink: 0.015%
- 2 hours from last drink: 0.030%
- 3 hours from last drink: 0.045%
- 4 hours from last drink 0.060%
- 5 hours from last drink 0.075%
- 6 hours from last drink 0.090%
These BAC measurements apply regardless of your tolerance for alcohol. Even if you do not feel intoxicated, your BAC still increases as you consume drinks, and you may still be above the legal limit for driving.
Source: West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration
While there is much more to safety around the holidays, these are practical tips to keep yourself safe. At SafeHaven Security Group, the experts teach many other effective early warning systems that allow you to recognize and prevent acts of violence. You can call or email for a free assessment or to learn more about our training programs. Safehaven Security Group wishes you and your families a safe and wonderful holiday season!
Michael Johnson, Senior Consultant
[email protected]
SafeHaven Security Group
www.safehavensecuritygroup.com