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And while it is important that your apartment or home is secure and well-protected, your own personal safety is worth just as much attention.
After all, the right combination between an increased level of security at home and street smarts when you're out and about is the best way to ensure that you aren't mugged, robbed, or worse.
Personal safety is incredibly important, whether you're heading to the same restaurant you've walked to from your apartment countless times before or are figuring out the dynamic of a new part of town where you've recently moved to.
The first and most obvious thing to consider is that assuming responsibility for home security is the best step in the right direction to experience a lot less problems.
Too much of the time, members of a household are expecting the alarm to set itself, for criminals to choose a neighbor's place for no apparent reason, or have a fatalistic impression that if it is going to happen, there is nothing that can be done.
But the truth is that even a couple of simple steps can mean the difference between a truly devastating problem or loss and a relatively happy and carefree experience.
After you've decided to be responsible for increasing your personal safety and your home security alike, you should first take a look at your residence through all new eyes.
If you walk around and try to think like a criminal, you might notice a number of gaping trouble spots for your house that before were never apparent.
For example, if you never use the deadbolts on the doors to your home, you will see quickly that it would be far easier to break in if those weren't securely locked.
So take the extra time and make the effort to lock all deadbolts, installing additional ones on doors that don't have them already.
That's an important and simple step towards increasing the residential security of your house or apartment.
Besides locks, there are other important steps towards keeping your home safe and secure whether you happen to be there or not.
Never leave extra keys anywhere that someone could easily grab them.
This means that an easy key securely tucked into the (locked) glove compartment of your car that is also locked is one thing, but leaving one under a mat or plant is quite another.
Likewise, it is important that you remember to always shut and lock all doors and windows.
If you've invested in any sort of home alarm system, it is not going to be able to work if you do not have the windows closed and shut securely, anyway, so getting into the habit of locking all doors and windows that you shut is a crucial step in keeping your house safe and secure.
Of course, there are also matters of personal security after you've addressed your home security.
Be sure that you know the story about your neighborhood's crime levels.
Check with the local police for statistics so you can be better informed, and also talk with your neighbors.
Figuring out if there is a neighborhood watch can be a step in the right direction, as can taking the initiative to not run around talking loudly on your cell phone while walking alone.
Basically, figuring out street smarts is just a matter of being vigilant, much in the same way that you are vigilant for your property.
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