Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
TEN TIPS FOR STREET SURVIVAL
Have a Plan. The bad guys aren't smarter than you. The main thing they have that you lack is a plan. If you take away their element of surprise, you've neutralized their most important weapon. Always think ahead. Imagine what could go wrong, and devise contingency plans. Make this mental exercise a habit.
Be Alert. Who is behind you? Is there a hiding place for an attacker nearby? Is there an alternate route that may be safer for you to use? Look and listen. It's better to avoid trouble that to extricate yourself from it.
Know Where You Are. If you had to call for help right now, could you tell the dispatcher exactly where to send an ambulance or deputy? Do you know the quickest way to the nearest shopping center, 24-hour restaurant, or other place of safety?
Walk With Confidence. A potential assailant is looking for an easy target. He or she will take the easy prey; the person who looks lost, appears to be daydreaming or not paying attention to their surroundings, someone with stooped shoulders who is looking at their feet.
Pretend Your Purse is a Football. Any bag or package you are carrying may be a target for a thief. Pay attention to football running backs; they are experts at protecting their payload for aggressive, quick-acting thieves. They clutch their package close to the body, with two hands if possible, on the side away from the likely direction of a thief's approach.
Don't Carry Lots of Cash. A thief can only steal what you've got. If, despite your precautions, planning, and alertness, you cross paths with a crook, yield your cash or other possessions. Don't carry all your eggs in one basket. Nothing you own is worth risking your life for.
Guard Your PIN. You may be surprised at how often thieves use ATM cards. This wouldn't be possible if the thief didn't have access to the "secret" PIN code. If you must have yours in writing, keep it somewhere other than in your wallet. It is also wise to keep a list of credit card numbers and the phone numbers to call to cancel any that might be lost or stolen. Also, don't forget to cancel any video rental cards.
Carry a Personal Defense
Weapon. Pepper spray is an excellent non-
lethal defensive
weapon...but only if it's instantly available at all times. A whistle or
loud alarm can also buy you a few seconds you need to make it to your
pre-planned place of safety. In Florida, law abiding citizens may obtain a
license to carry a concealed firearm for defense; the Okaloosa County
Sheriff's Office sponsors low-cost training classes for those so inclined.
In an emergency, use any weapon you can improvise: nail file, keys,
flashlight, clipboard, etc.
Look Before You Leap. When you enter a home or other building, you are on someone else's turf. How many people are inside? What are their emotional states? Take a second to look and listen before walking into the middle of trouble. Think like a cop; every room is full of potential weapons...and you never know who might be disturbed enough to use them.
Trust Your Instincts. If something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't. Don't be afraid to report suspicious events or persons to law enforcement. In Okaloosa County, you may reach the Sheriff's Office by calling *SO (Alltel Customers) or *OSO (AT&T Customers). Non-emergency numbers from landline phones are 651-7400 (South Okaloosa Area) or 689-5666 (Crestview Area). Of course, in an emergency, dial 9-1-1 from any telephone.
Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
1250 North Eglin Parkway
Shalimar, FL 32579
(850) 651-7410