Had a Theft Experience? Start Being Vigilant Now, Here's How

From a young age, we’re taught to stay away from strangers. Into adulthood, we become even more wary about the dangers of the world. Despite this, familiarity can make us complacent. Once we’ve grown accustomed to our homes and our community, we have the tendency to let our guards down and practicing vigilance can easily be forgotten. All too quickly, we neglect the possibility that threats to our home are everywhere. Dinah Post writes in the Guardian about her personal experience with theft , and how she met her burglars on holiday, 30 years after the incident. What stood out about her encounter is that the culprits were the most unusual of suspects, an educated, well-off, middle-aged couple, which only proves that anyone can do it, even those we consider neighbors or peers.

However, staying vigilant against burglars should not only be practiced in our homes. Safe traveling is also a large concern. Not only does your home become an easy target for theft when you’re out for vacation, you may also be more vulnerable for theft while you’re in a foreign country. Author and European travel expert, Rick Steeves , says that in about 30 summers of travel, he’s been mugged once and has had his rental cars broken into around six times. While violence is a rarity in Europe, petty crimes are rampant, with tourists being thieves’ favorite unsuspecting victims. However, with all this being said, don’t be scared into never leaving your house. You should be limiting your exposure to theft, not your exposure to life. To limit your worries, many resources are available online, as well as advanced technology, to help you in outsmarting those burglars. On my end, here are some tips and tricks to practicing vigilance, whatever the situation.

FOR HOME SAFETY

Break into your own house

A Secure Life says that the best way to protect your home from criminals is to think like one. Start by analyzing your home objectively, and think about how you would break in if you were a burglar. By doing this, you have the ability to be aware of all the loopholes in your home security system, anticipate your thief’s plan of attack, and adjust accordingly. More than that, if a thief does manage to slip your security, you’ll know exactly what to expect. From their entry point to their target areas, you can be prepared in protecting your home against burglars.

Invest in making your home a smart one

Smart homes were once a thing of the future, but today they’re a very practical reality. Beyond the technologically-advanced home security systems in the market, there are also more affordable ways to stay vigilant against burglars. There are now various apps, such as Honeywell Total Connect , that allow you to monitor your home alarm system via your smartphone. Even when you’re out on holiday, at work, or just having dinner with friends, you can stay informed about the activities happening in your abode. More importantly, this allows you to act instantly and alert law enforcers the moment something goes wrong while you’re away.

If you can’t monitor your home, have someone else do it for you

What use is a home security system, when you can’t monitor it? Again, while there are apps are available to help you do this, nobody wants to be glued to their phone during vacations nor is it always appropriate. Whether you’re at a work or having an important lunch meeting, constantly checking your phone can seem rude. This is why today, some security companies also offer to monitor your home alarm systems for you. While some may say they can do it themselves, it can also be hard to stay vigilant 24/7. Others may also not feel that it’s worth the money, but few companies offer this service at very low rates. It’s always good to look at your options, and see what’s right for you. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

FOR TRAVELING

Actively avoid commotions and crowds

People are naturally curious beings. They always want to know what’s going on. This is why when they see a large group of people convening, though they have no idea why they’re doing so, they have the tendency to be drawn to the commotion anyways. If you’re traveling, follow your head instead of following the crowd. Street shows, fairs, or even just two people making a scene — when faced with these types of situations, walk the other way. These are usually smoke screens created to attract tourists and easily take advantage of them, all in one place.

Keep valuables in your hotel, and your cash in a money belt

I have known people who refuse to leave anything in a hotel, because they’re afraid of being ransacked or simply don’t trust the service. This is absolutely wrong. When you carry your valuables with you from place to place, chances of these being stolen and lost increase. Not only can someone take your things without you even noticing, you are also prone to misplacing or forgetting about them. How many times have we heard the story of  keys, wallets, and phones being left behind on trains and cafes? Most hotels have safes in the room, and larger hotels will happily keep your items at the reception while you’re out. On another note, in the instance you do have to bring your valuables around, use a money belt. This way, thieves won’t find anything on you, even if they tried.

Minimize your losses, before they even happen

Luck favors the prepared. Whether you’re on vacation or at home, it’s best to underestimate risk and always be ready. Have emergency cash and copies of important documents tucked away in a safe place or with someone you trust. Some things just can’t be prevented, but what we can control is how much they will impact us. However, this doesn’t mean we should stop practicing vigilance. It should be a constant effort, wherever we are.

The way to a smarter you begins with the experiences you’ve had in the past. But an encounter with a felon should not be the trigger on being vigilant. Vigilance should always be practiced. Just start with these simple steps we’ve lined up just for you.