(1) The three reasons for becoming easy targets for random acts of violence are:
(a) Lack of Awareness You MUST know where you are & what's going on around you. Be aware of your surroundings.
(b) Body Language Keep your head up, swing your arms, stand straight up, walk alert.
(c) Wrong Place, Wrong Time DON'T walk alone in an alley, or drive in bad neighborhoods at night. If you sense danger, keep the car in gear, one foot on the brake and one on the gas and be ready to jet away. Escape is the first and preferred form of self-defense. (Even at home.)

(2) Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list,etc). Also, lingering with the door open and bending over into the car provides a window of opportunity to an observing criminal. You are providing the perfect opportunity for him to push you in or get in the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE. Deny any windows of opportunity regarding trips between your house and car or any other place and your car.
(a) A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage: Be
aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the
back seat.
(b) If you are parked next to a van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most
serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are
attempting to get into their cars.
(c) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side.
If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into
the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.

(3) ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot).

(4) If a criminal has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! Odds of being hit are 4 in 100. Even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!

(5) Don't try to be sympathetic: It may get you raped, or killed. Serial killers ALWAYS play on the sympathies of the unsuspecting. Walking with a cane, wearing a cast, or faking a limp, asking "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is bringing a victim into the "zone".

(6) Women use first initial on mail box and in phone book.

(7) Relinquish only your car key to garage or parking lot attendants, retaining custody of house and work keys.

(8) Be highly selective in whom you admit to your space. Offenders are often acquaintances of their victims.

(9) Require identification of repairmen, servicement, etc. Offenders frequently pose as phone repairmen, policemen, fire inspectors, etc.

(10) Do not let phone callers know you are alone.

(11) Keep doors and windows locked.

(12) Keep shades or drapes drawn after dark.