| According to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation | | | | of phone numbers that you pre-set. Most of these |
| (FBI), violent crime is on the rise. The FBI estimated that | | | | motion alarms use infrared technology to detect |
| over 1.4 million violent crimes occurred in 2006 (the last | | | | intruders. |
| year for which complete data are available), an | | | | Personal Security Devices |
| increase of almost two percent over the previous | | | | There are two primary ways of defending yourself |
| year. The Bureau found that aggravated assault | | | | against attack: mace pepper spray and personal alarm |
| topped the list of violent crimes, followed by robbery | | | | systems. Mace pepper spray is a self defense |
| (31.6 percent) and rape (6.5 percent). | | | | product that is made from what are, essentially, chili |
| While these statistics are startling, those who have | | | | peppers. The pepper is suspended in fluid and then |
| been victimized by violent crime and those who have | | | | aerosolized into a spray. You can buy pepper spray in |
| had brushes with crime but managed to escape know | | | | small, easy-to-carry containers that can easily be put |
| that it's critical to protect yourself and your family from | | | | on a keychain or tucked into a handbag. Some states |
| attack or intruders. According to experts, there are | | | | in the U.S. have restrictions regarding the legality of |
| two primary ways to do so: | | | | pepper spray, either in terms of who is authorized to |
| Home Alarm Systems | | | | buy it or the strength of the spray, so you should |
| Home alarms are one of the best and easiest ways | | | | check your state's laws before you buy. |
| to both deter and detect crime. Even if you don't have | | | | Personal alarm systems are in some ways similar to |
| the money to install a full system, there are products | | | | home alarms, except they're small and easy to carry. |
| you can buy to help protect your home. Wireless | | | | These devices' features vary by model, but can |
| home security systems, for example, can monitor | | | | incorporate a high-decibel alarm and a flashing light. |
| windows and doors. Typically, if the system is | | | | They are usually activated by either pulling a pin or |
| activated and then breached, an alarm goes off, and | | | | pushing a button and are effective because they draw |
| the system's base unit will consecutively call phone | | | | the attention of passersby, and hopefully cause the |
| numbers on your programmed list. When someone | | | | criminal to run. |
| answers, he or she can choose between listening to | | | | Of course, there are a number of other steps you can |
| the activity in the room, speaking through the base unit | | | | take to protect yourself and your family from attack |
| so anyone in the room can hear, or disarming the | | | | or intruders. For example, you should regularly review |
| system. | | | | and practice the steps you will take if you are |
| Similarly, motion alarms can be set to protect certain | | | | confronted by a criminal in a variety of scenarios. |
| areas. You can set one up so that it covers the area | | | | Experts often say that those who survive attacks are |
| near your front door, and another that covers the area | | | | people who have trusted their intuition, planned possible |
| near your back door. If the system picks up | | | | escapes ahead of time, and kept a clear head |
| movement, a loud alarm goes off and it calls a series | | | | throughout the crisis. |