Rapes & Sex Crimes:
Some rapes are random, spontaneous type rapes. Most are planned, where the rapist has watched you before, maybe knows your schedule, whose home at what time, etc. There are also Date Rapes, where the rape occurs on a planned date, with a known person. Whichever the case, a rape is a serious crime. A felony. Not to mention the trauma a victim is put through.
· Rape, like alot of crimes, is a crime of opportunity. If the opportunity exist, a suspect will try. If the opportunity is not there, the suspect will try elsewhere or at another time. Like I mentioned earlier, no tips can make you 100% safe. But they can reduce your chances of becoming a victim. O.K., here we go, lets go for the most obvious ones:
· Lock your doors. Even if it’s just the screen door. Believe it or not, a locked door can stop a rapist. Most will not draw attention to themselves by breaking in. They would rather just walk in quietly and surprise you. If they break in, a neighbor may call the police, or it gives you time to scream, yell, or call 911.
· Close your blinds. Even if your in a second story floor, someone can see you changing. Nothing attracts attention more than a naked or barely clothed female.
· Like in most of NetCops tips, be aware of your surroundings. When you gave the department store directions to your house for furniture delivery, you didn’t see the guy standing behind you, did you? (He got the directions too)
· When you wrote out the check at the hardware store, the guy in line behind you was looking at the address on the check too, guess you didn’t see.
· A guy knocks on your door, asking to use the phone; his car is broke down. Too bad you didn’t notice that he’s the same guy you saw driving through the neighborhood several times prior while you were washing your car. Once he’s in your house, it’s a little late.
· Left your car unlocked at the store? While you were shopping, the suspect looked at your registration and got your address. Maybe even your garage door opener.
· The noises at your back door the past few nights? Must have been the wind, right? Are you sure it wasn’t someone who "watched you" and is now trying to find a way in?
· Don’t be afraid to call the police to check out suspicious sounds, activity, vehicles or persons. We would rather check out a person in front of your house than to come back an hour later seeing you traumatized from a rape. If you go on a date, and the "date" is not leaving, or is making advances faster than you like, call us. We will make them leave. Once the police have all their information and know who they are, the chances of you becoming a victim greatly decrease. Who is going to commit a crime when they would be the obvious suspects? Then it’s up to you to lock doors, watch your surroundings, and call the police. There is not much you can do to guard against becoming a victim of a random spontaneous sex crime. But luckily the planned assaults can be avoided if you keep alert and aware.
· If by chance you become the victim of a sex crime, call the police as soon as possible. We understand you have been violated, and alot of times a victim will take a shower or clean up to feel cleaner, but that destroys evidence. Evidence needs to be collected to send the suspect to prison, where they deserve to be. If you do become a victim, call the police and do not do anything until a police officer arrives to assist you.
· By using common sense, and being aware of your surroundings, hopefully you will not need any NetCops tips from this category.
