Nobody in the world wants to be the next victim of a crime. But no matter where you are or what you do, you are at the risk of being a victim. Whether you are at home, in the office, or even in school, there is still that chance of meeting someone who is a criminal.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 28,400 crimes were recorded inside college campuses in 2016. These were committed not just against people but also against properties. The most common forms of crime noted were the following: burglaries (12,000 or 41 percent of the total); offenses related to forcible sex (8,900 or 31 percent); and stealing of motor vehicle (3,500 or 12 percent).
The total number of campus crimes registered in 2016 showed a three percent increase compared to 2015. The reports from security agencies and the police were the basis for the data.
On the other hand, it was noted that several hate crimes happened on post-secondary campuses. In 2016, a total of 1,070 incidents were considered under this category. A majority of them were vandalism, damage, and destruction, which recorded 464 events; 421, intimidation; 99, simple assault; and 34, aggravated assault and larceny.
Tips to Protect Yourself
With the prevalence of campus crimes, it is but natural that you learn how to protect yourself. Here are some ways on how to avoid becoming the next victim:
- Have enough courage. You can only fight the criminals if you believe in yourself. Without the courage to protect yourself, you might easily panic whenever you feel the risk.
- Trust your instincts. Do you feel that someone is following you? Do you hear unusual sounds? If your senses are trying to tell you that something is not right, trust those clues.
- Be conscious of the people around you. It’s not that you’re paranoid; you’re just trying to protect yourself. To do this, you need to pay attention to whoever you walk or sit with inside the campus. If you feel that danger is near, you can use the personal protection device that you’re carrying. If you still do not have one, you may ask for the most reliable defense alert device.
- Look confident. If you show people that you are afraid, those who have bad intentions could intimidate you easily. If this happens, you will become a sure victim. Thus, you need to look confident at all times. Show them that you are ready to fight and protect yourself.
- Learn self-defense. Aside from bringing a personal protection device wherever you go, please learn self-defense as well. There are several classes on self-defense that you can attend if you want to acquire the right skills and stance.
- React at fast speeds. The presence of the mind is very vital in self-defense. You have to train yourself to react right away, or in a split of a second, when there is imminent danger.
Protecting yourself against crimes is possible if you know how to do it. You may ensure, too, that you carry a defense alert device for further protection.