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Article Series:
Home Emergency Preparation Tips &
Family Disaster Plans
How
To Protect Your Family Against Crime
People who have lost their homes as a result
of a disaster are extremely vulnerable to theft. A
large amount of thefts occur after an emergency or disaster. This is because
there is a chance that the family will not be home. Furthermore,
not enough police may be available, because of the large number
of people who have lost their homes. In addition, phone lines
and cell phone towers may be down. This makes it difficult
for families who just lost their homes to protect their belongings.
However, it is not entirely impossible. The following techniques
can be used to deter criminals from looting your destroyed
home:
Have
small valuables locked in a Safe. Find the most durable
and most secure safe possible. Inside you can store family
heirlooms, wedding rings, gold and silver jewelry, and diamonds.
You can also store rare coins in this. This will help deter
theft in case of a disaster. Also, any emergency supplies items
such as clothes, food, and medicine can be stored in these.
Safes come in a variety of sizes. Contact a local dealer to
find one that is right for you. You can also build your own
safe. Find a safe and hidden spot in your home, such as inside
of a closet. Pour a cement floor into your closet and place
your safe inside. Now no one will be able to walk away with
your safe.
Join
the neighborhood watch team. Take advantage of your local
neighborhood watch program. This is one of the most effective
forms of crime prevention. The more people involved in watching
your home (in turn for you watching theirs), the better chance
crime can be prevented. Also if you don’t have a working cell
phone or telephone line, you will not have to worry. One of
your neighbor’s phones may still work. This increases the chances
of crime prevention during a disaster:
Also,
one of the members of the neighborhood watch can document
all
suspicious activity to use as evidence later. The
power of the neighborhood watch is that it provides witness
protection. It helps you get your belongings back faster if they are stolen.
This is made possible when neighborhood watch members participate.
Again, with this system, more crimes can be stopped during
a disaster.
Furthermore, if a neighborhood watch is in place, you will
have extra protection if your not able to stay home or you
are out for the day.
Ways
to protect your home in a rural area. You can post “No
trespassing” signs, but often they are not affective. For further
protection you need to have a weapon to protect your home.
Suggested types of guns to use for self defense are a small
rifle or pistol. Adults and responsible adolescents with gun
licenses can use these to defend the property of our home from
intruders. A gun can also help defend you in prevention of
more violent crimes, such as murder, rape, or other kinds of
assaults. These are found to be less common crimes after a
disaster, however, these are possible ways in which a disaster
victim can be affected. Violence sometimes occurs to force
the victims to comply during theft.
When
using a gun for self-protection, be sure to use it carefully
and wisely. You would not want any innocent person to get injured
or killed. Also, remember it is okay to use a gun for self-defense,
but be sure that you have properly assessed the situation.
If you do happen to shoot someone, be prepared to prove in
court that it was definitely self defense.
Send
the rest of your family elsewhere. The best way to protect
your family from crime is to have them transferred to a safe
place. This would be a pre-planned emergency destination. This
place could be a friend, relative, or co-worker’s house. It
could also be a public shelter open to dealing with disaster
victims. It is best to have a route and destination planned
ahead of time for quick evacuation.
This list is not necessarily all inclusive, but it is a great
start. Please refer to local law enforcement offices, and emergency
centers for more disaster crime prevention information. May
you and your family be safe, and may you recover as many of
your belongings as possible.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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