News broadcasts are overflowing with stories of missing kids, murders and violence against individuals and families. Despite spending billions on more police, jails and attempting to place repeat offenders behind bars for good, no one seems to be safe. Why? Because the many of perpetrators of these crimes are either driven by prurient lusts or a need to pay for drugs. They have no fear of the police or penalties assigned by courts. Given those facts, the best way to keep yourself and your family safe is by taking personal responsibility for your own safety.

Safety is not always about carrying around a concealed weapon, stun gun or pepper spray. It’s also about denying criminals an opportunity to attack us in or outside our homes. Many crimes occur because criminals detect an opportunity to commit them. We invite offenders to attack us or invade our homes by failing to take preemptive measures for our own safety. Most of these measures are common sense solutions that require little time, effort and a modest amount of money to implement. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Secure your home and neighborhood.

Many home and apartment invasions occur during broad daylight hours because criminals know that is when they are more likely to find an easy way into someone’s dwelling. People are lured into a false sense of security because it is daytime. They leave doors open for convenience or because they are expecting someone, and that provides the criminal with a chance to act.

Make sure that doors and windows are locked at all times. If you have a house with a fenced in backyard, be sure you lock any gates that provide access to the yard with pad locks. The rooms where children under eighteen years of age sleep should have bars on the windows. These can be any color, are expandable and easy to install with a hand or power drill. They are available at most home improvement stores for a reasonable cost.

A steel mesh gate with a dead bolt lock as a second front door (and another for the back) provide excellent protection and allow you to get a good look at who is there. These will cost a few dollars, but tend to make criminals think twice and will likely make them move on to an easier break-in. An alarm system is very helpful if you can afford one. If you have land line phone service, make sure every room in your home has an extension and an operating phone in it. Otherwise, carry a cell phone with you at all times.