NORTHERN CRANE

PUBLIC SAFETY SEMINAR:

REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM ^®

& CIVIL/SELF-DEFENSE WORKSHOP:    

SURVIVAL TACTICS & STRATEGIES / SURVIVAL BASICS 101

SEMINAR INSTRUCTOR:  

SENSEI PHIL PEREZ, RENSHI - 6TH DAN - OKINAWAN MATSUMURA SEITO SHORINRYU HAKUTSURU KARATEJUTSU & KOBUJUTSU. SIFU -YANG STYLE TAIJIQUAN (TAI CHI) & TAIJIQUAN JIAN.

Part Two will be held in the afternoon and will teach hands-on practical self-defense techniques such as grab escapes and criminal assault and abduction defenses as well as the use of common everyday items in self-defense. The basic use of the small key holder rod or Kubotan® will be taught. Practice Kubotans will be provided for the seminar and actual ones for the personal use of seminar participants to keep is also included in the Tuition price. 

The Law as it pertains to civil self-defense will also be addressed. This seminar is designed for participants to work together with a partner so participants should, if at all possible sign up for the seminar series with a training partner. There isn’t another public safety program like this in New England! For more information please call Sensei Phil Perez at 985-8582. 

PART I

        9 am -12 pm - REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM®  - NRA Women's Division approved and designed seminar consisting of an audio and visual assisted 3 hour lecture presentation. The reference/text book for this seminar is included in tuition price.

$25.00 per participant

PART II  

1 pm - 4 pm - CIVIL/SELF-DEFENSE WORKSHOP This second half of the full day seminar is a hands-on self defense class where participants will be taught simple escaping techniques that really work - everytime! Kubutan® included in price. (PART I IS REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION TO PART II)

$25.00 per participant - Class size limited to 20 (10 pairs)

$50.00 per participant - Both Seminars. 

Seminars held at: 

Northern Crane Martial & Natural Healing Arts Center

Limerick Business Park 

39 Limerick Road, Arundel, Maine

THE FOLLOWING IS INFORMATION THAT WE AT NORTHERN CRANE MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION FEEL THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE OF FREE OF CHARGE:

CIVIL SELF-DEFENSE: 

AWARENESS, AVOIDANCE & CIVIL SELF- DEFENSE AGAINST CHILD ABDUCTIONS, MUGGINGS, RAPE AND HOME INVASIONS.

INTRODUCTION

This part of the Northern Crane Web Page is dedicated to disseminating vital civilian self-defense including rape prevention, child abduction prevention, home invasion security and general crime prevention awareness information to our community at large.  Although it is great to possess this information, it is by far not complete and can never take the place of true self-defense oriented martial arts training of at least one year in duration or more.  Having said that, we at Northern Crane feel that it is our civic responsibility if not our duty to make this information available to the general public for free here and for a nominal cost in our NRA Refuse to be a Victim® / Northern Crane Civil/Self Defense seminar.  

For some people, regular training in self-defense martial arts is out of the question for a  variety of reasons. In these cases we feel that the next best option is to become as familiar as a person can be with this vital information and enhance it with some very basic awareness, avoidance and hands on reactive self-defense techniques that can only be taught face to face.  With this in mind, we at Northern Crane offers one day - 6 hour long seminar (see above). This seminar are held on site at Northern Crane on specially selected Saturdays.  Pre-registration is required.  These seminars as stated above are open to the general ADULT public (18 and older).  The following information is best used as a primer for these seminars.

Table of Contents

1. Child Abduction
2. Personal Abduction
3. Violent Crime and Rape
4. Home Invasion and Burglary

CHILD ABDUCTION

CHILD ABDUCTION STATISTICS:

• Approximately 4,600 children are abducted by strangers (non family members) each year in the United States.
• Approximately 120,000 abductions are attempted each year.
• Approximately 300 long term abductions take place each year where the children are either murdered, never found, or returned to their families for months or even years.
• Approximately 438,200 children are currently lost or otherwise missing.
• Approximately 354,00 children are abducted by family members each year.
• Approximately 450,700 children run away from home each year.
• Approximately 127,100 children are thrown away each year.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO TO PREVENT ABDUCTIONS:

• Talk to your child frankly about abductions.
• Teach you child about AVOIDANCE, AWARENESS & SELF-DEFENSE.
• Don't hide what's out there from your child.
• Make your child aware of how abductors and molesters work and the techniques they use to get their victims.
• Enter your child around the age of 12 or not much older than 14 in a self-defense oriented martial arts school like Northern Crane and keep them there until they graduate from high school and leave home. This is the best survival education your child can receive and is no less important for their survival in our society than learning how to read, write and balance a checking account.  Much earlier than 12 can be counterproductive, your child may not be mature enough  physically, emotionally, socially or intellectually for a true martial arts program. Older than 14 may be too late to prevent any unwholesome peer pressure from taking hold of your child.

PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE WITH YOUR CHILD:

• Parents MUST know the families of their child's friends.
• Fingerprint and have current photographs of your children available.
• Children should use the buddy system.  NEVER allow a child especially under 12 to walk or ride bikes alone, at night or even during the day.
• Teach your child to always head towards traffic when riding (on a side walk wherever possible) or walking so that an abductor cannot drive up behind the child and pull them into their vehicle. (Adults or teens should always ride a bike in the direction of traffic when on the road).
• NEVER allow a child to hitch-hike or accept rides from friends unless you have given permission. You also should never hitch-hike either.
• Never leave a child in a vehicle when going into a store even if it's just for a few minutes.
• Give your child a secret CODE word known only to family members in the event of an emergency. (Do not use birth dates, Super Heroes, etc.).  During an emergency if someone has to pick up your child from school, a park, etc. they must know the Secret CODE word for your child to go with them.  Otherwise always inform your child as to who will be picking them up if someone else will be picking them up instead of you.
• Do not allow your child's name to be displayed anywhere where an abductor may read it (lunch box, bike license plate, etc.).  When a child is called by their own name it is easier for an abductor to get their initial attention and trust.
• If anyone has to pick up your child, they MUST know the secret CODE word for your child to go with them.
• If a strange vehicle or person tries to approach, DO NOT GO NEAR THE VEHICLE! Keep walking or run if necessary.
• If a strange vehicle approaches, run in the opposite direction of vehicle or traffic.
• Teach your child there is NEVER any reason why a strange adult needs the help of a child for ANYTHING (asking for help finding lost or getting a closer look at puppies and or kittens in the car are standard fare)!
• A stranger is ANYONE who a parent has not approved the child to be with while the parent is not also there. There are too many cases where children think a stranger is someone who looks WEIRD rather than a regular or nice looking person who may have bad intentions towards your child.
• Bus stops are common areas for child abductors to use. They will tell the child the bus is broken down or if the weather is inclement, that they can get out of the elements with them.
• Parks are common lurking grounds for abductors! Any child under 12 should be directly supervised and those over 12 should always use the Buddy System.
• Never allow a small child to use a public restroom alone! Always have them escorted.
• Always make sure you know where your child is, with whom and when they will be returning.
• Teach your child at a young age how and when to use 911.  Disconnect the phone and pretend that you are the dispatcher the child is calling.  
• Make sure your child knows their full name and yours, their complete address to your home and your complete phone number. Also how to write them as soon as they can. Drill them repeatedly until they have memorized these crucial facts.
• Let your child know that if ANYONE touches them in their private areas that they should let you know.  That includes people they know or that you know; friends of the family, relatives, clergy, teachers, coaches, scout leaders, ANYONE.  Never allow your child to be alone with any adult that you are not absolutely comfortable with, this includes Martial Arts teachers.
• Purchase and teach your children to use small inexpensive yet good quality walkie-talkies.  They are now easily available and are great in case you get separated from your child at a large public gathering such as a county fair, mall, etc.  They are a good idea any time your child is just outside playing with friends next door or down the block.  Cell phones are also great in a bad situation, but much more expensive to keep with a child.
• Cellular phones are a must for teenagers but must be used correctly: To call you if anything happens that they need you for, such as a ride home and to keep you informed of any changes in their plans. Remember that a cell phone won't help them against an abduction but it can keep them from getting into a bad situation to start with.
• Teach a child that they must never help a stranger in any way. Even a seemingly safe assistance such as reaching for mail from a person in a car that may ask them to put it into a mail box they may be standing near could be the last thing they do.
• Abductors work in ingenious ways. They might even call your home when your children are alone and say that you have ordered a Pizza for them since you can't make it home on time to make them their meal. That he'll be there in 5 minutes. Will your child open the door to them?
• Teach your child never to tell any stranger who calls on the phone when you are not present anything other than: "My mom (dad) can't come to the phone right now. Can I take your name and phone number?  She (He) will call you back as soon as she (he) can."  If they don't give that information to your child, the conversation is over...period. Be very aware that with today's cellular technology, the person could be calling from right outside with visual contact of your home.  The less information given, the better.  If they saw the parent leave (It could also be you, a woman alone in the house, if your husband has just left!) and you or your child lies, saying that they are busy right now, they'll know. If you or your child tells them the truth...that he or she has just left and might be gone for a while...they have just received the information they were looking for.  A big opportunity to get you or your child.
• If your child becomes lost at any public place teach your child to look for a policeman, however, chances are there may not be one just when your child needs one so the next best thing is to go to the nearest mom they can see (any woman with kids is easy to spot) and a safer bet than anyone else that may be available. Always pick a very public, centrally located spot to meet them at as soon as possible if or when you become separated from them for any reason, especially if you do not have walkie-talkies or cellular phones.
• Teach your child to yell that the person they are screaming to get away from is not their Dad (or Mom).  Sometimes possible bystanders assume that what is going on is a family argument and not a criminal abduction.
• Don't let your child accept gifts from anyone not specifically approved by you.
• Don't allow your child to talk to someone on the other side of a school fence. Teach them to run to a teacher and inform them.
• Don't allow your child unrestricted or unsupervised access to the internet on any computer. ESPECIALLY CHAT ROOMS. Always know who your child is establishing a relationship with (TEENAGERS TOO).
• Observe curfews strictly with teenagers, with girls always use even more strict guidelines, there is wisdom in the traditional conservative ways like chaperoning or supervising dates including after-prom parties.  You will not be adored by your child for these precautions but they will thank you years later for caring enough about them to do this for them.  In the state of Maine where I reside, the legal age of consent is 14! Unbelievable isn't it.  So if you don't want to see your daughter have an abortion or have a child so early in life and become responsible for the upbringing of that child, watch your daughters carefully.
• Tough love works, it calls for reading the riot act to your teenage child if they insist on unwholesome or promiscuous behavior.  Let them know up front that if you are responsible for them, you have to have the authority to discipline them.  If they insist on their "legal" rights,  let them know they can always become wards of the state instead and live in a group home.  That should make them understand that if you are responsible you have to have authority, there can be no other way.
• Let your child know that with privileges comes responsibilities and hold them to it. Maturity comes from understanding and abiding by this principle.
• Always  tell your child where they should be, what time to be home by and to go directly home from where they may be going to.
• If your child walks to school they should always take the same route, go with them at first and let them know where all the safe places and locations are where they can take refuge if anything happens along the way. Do not allow them to take unsafe short cuts across parks, etc.  Check up on them occasionally by following them at a distance.
• When walking on public streets teach your child to walk in the middle of the sidewalk, away from doorways, alley-ways and parked cars, especially vans, always if possible against the direction of vehicle traffic.
• Do not allow your child to befriend the children of unwholesome people. Know the parents of your child's friends well! Never allow play dates unless you know exactly who will be there. How well do you know the parents and the siblings of your child's friend?
• Search and seizure laws do not apply to parents, go through your child's belongings if you suspect anything like drug abuse, etc.  The unsavory characters involved in drug trafficking to kids are capable of anything! Start keeping your kids busy as they approach their teen years with challenging and or fun after school activities such as sports or wholesome clubs (hint: martial arts classes).
• Always let your child know that you are doing these things because you love them and want to protect them. 

EASY TECHNIQUES TO TEACH YOUR CHILD

The following techniques for children come from nationally acclaimed safety expert Bob Stuber:

Velcro technique: Children cannot only yell out for help, they can grab hold of an adult for help. This involves the adult in the situation in a manner that forces participation.

Windmill technique: If somebody is bigger and stronger than the child, the child rotates his or her arm forward in a big circle, preventing the would-be attacker from grabbing hold.

Bicycle Hug: If a would-be abductor attempts to grab a child off a bike, the child can "hug" the bicycle, making abduction difficult, if not impossible.

Techniques for a child inside an abductor's car are also simple:
* The first thing Stuber tells a child is to open the door and get out. Children need to make a lot of noise at the very beginning of this whole process, Stuber said.

* If it's a four-door car, the child can jump into the back seat and go out the back door really quickly.

The child is not going to get hurt at this point. "He [the abductor] wants to get out somewhere by himself. He may threaten the child, but he's not going to hurt the child right there. That's not what this is about. That takes place later.

*Another technique for a child inside the car is to place an object in the ignition cylinder, where the key goes in. It can be a stick. It can be a button off their clothing. Even bubble gum works. Once they do that, they can't get the key back in.

If you can't get the key in to start the car, this isn't going to go any further, and that's the key to the whole thing, stopping it.  If the car can be stopped or the potential crime can be stopped in the neighborhood, then the crime is going to come to an end.

Children placed in a trunk should be taught how to disconnect the taillights by finding a panel in the back corner of just about every car. Anybody can pull that panel off. Inside are the wires. If you pull those wires, you disconnect the brake and taillights. Now you have increased the odds 50 percent that the police will pull the car over because it has no brake or tail lights; then they will hear the child inside.

Simple actions such as blowing a whistle are among the strongest deterrents. It's all about common sense. It's all about taking advantage of little opportunities as they present themselves. And it isn't very hard for a child to do.

The FBI has a good website with the information given hear. The unique part of the FBI site is that it is written for kids to read: www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/safety4.htm

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD HAS BEEN MOLESTED?

• Fear of certain places, people, activities or if they do not want to be alone with certain people.  A child should never be forced to give affection to other people if they do not want to.  This avoidance may indicate a problem.
• Afraid to go to bed, constant nightmares or other related sleep problems.
• Changes in the child's behavior, sudden mood swings, fearfulness, withdrawal from things around them and excessive crying.
• Having an unusual interest in sexual matters or acting out sexual acts.
• Rebellious or aggressive behavior.
• Regression or infantile behavior.
• Pain, itching, bleeding or rawness in the private areas.

EXCELLENT BOOK:

• "Street Sense for Parents" by Louis R. Mizell, Jr. (ISBN 0-425-14947-1)

HOW TO IDENTIFY A STRANGE VEHICLE OR PERSON:

One of the key ways to help the police to quickly apprehend a possible child abductor and get your child back is to be able to give a good description of the suspect to the police.  Use caution, do not put yourself at risk by approaching closer in order to obtain this information.

• Color or colors of vehicle.
• Type of vehicle (Make, Model...Ford Pick Up, etc.).
• License plate numbers and State the license plate is from.
• Anything else that might be used to distinguish the vehicle such as: dents, rust, window tinting, etc.
• Race/nationality (White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, Indian, etc.).
• Sex (Male/Female).
• Approximate age.
• Height & Build (tall, short, thin, heavy set, etc.).
• Hair color & length, or lack of hair (baldness), facial hair (mustache, beard, sideburns, clean shaven, etc.).
• Any other identifying marks such as scars, tattoos, clothing style and colors (hats, jackets, coat, glasses etc.).
• Pets or companions with them and their descriptions.

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PERSONAL ABDUCTION

WHAT DO I DO IF SOMEONE TRIES TO ABDUCT ME:

• Remember the word SKY (Scream/Kick/Yell).  These three things will draw attention to you and could save your life.
• Look for a person you know or a safe place to go to. Run there and ask for help. Do not go towards your home unless it close by and you know someone is there that can help. 
• Stay near people if at all possible. Do not run  into an open field or wooded area.
• Do not go anywhere with the abductor no matter what they may say.  They are lying to you to get you to come to a more private place where they can and will do anything they want to you. Fight right there.
• When yelling for help in indoor situations such as hotels don't yell HELP, yell FIRE, you are much more likely to have people come out looking to escape a possible fire (and discover your situation).  Most people are unwilling or afraid to become involved in a crime situation if they can help it.

THE 4 R'S:

• REACT: Don't wait, the moment someone starts to threaten or grab you do something.
• RELEASE: Get away by using SKY.
• RETALIATE: Hit, kick or punch.
• RUN: Get out of the area as fast as you can. 

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VIOLENT CRIME AND RAPE

HOW TO AVOID BEING THE VICTIM OF A VIOLENT CRIME...ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A WOMAN:

VIOLENT CRIME STATISTICS:

1 out of every 5 men and 1 out of every 4 women will most likely encounter a violent crime against them in their lifetime.  This is a worse statistical chance than playing Russian Roulette (1 out of 6 chance of shooting yourself with the average 6 round revolver).  Not too many people are crazy enough to play Russian Roulette yet very few people are adequately prepared against violent crime.  Most just take their "chances" and let fate take its course.  How many people do you know who ride in a car without a seat belt?  Well guess what, your chances are better there too.

Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency Study found that women are raped by:

• 10.6 % by strangers
• 24.9 % by acquaintances
• 30 % by steady dates
• 21 % by casual dates
• 8.9 % by family members

Department of Justice Statistics:

• 54 % of all women raped were 18 years old or younger
• 22 % were 12 years old
• 13 % were 12 to 17 years old
• 66 % of these assaults were committed by persons known to them
• Evidence shows that every day from 1,500 to 1,800 women or more are raped in the United States.

You must remember that once you dial 911 (if you are lucky enough to get a chance) a police officer will not magically appear in a moment like a Genie from a magic lamp.  It takes time to dispatch and travel to where you are.  The Police is not their to protect YOU, they are primarily there to investigate crime and bring criminals to justice.   You must learn to protect YOURSELF!

Three reasons some people are easy targets for random acts of violence are:

1. Lack of awareness.  You MUST know where you are & what's going on around you. 
2. Body Language Keep your head up, swing your arms, stand straight up.

3. Wrong Place, Wrong Time DON'T walk alone in an alley, or drive in a bad neighborhood at night.

WHAT TO DO: 

• The elbows and knees are the strongest points on your body. If you are close enough to use them, do!
• Always go for the less guarded targets first, legs are best.
• Buy and learn to use a simple weapon you can have with you at all times. Kubotan key chains are an excellent choice.
• If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
• If you can reach the foot petals of the car and it is on the road press the accelerator and cause a traffic accident, your chances are much better that way and you will definitely call attention to the situation.
• Your car is a very powerful weapon, if you can use it, do!
• Always in traffic allow space between your vehicle and the one in front of you for maneuverability, this has prevented many a car jacking.
• Never overdress for a situation. You do not need to wear all your expensive jewelry to go to the Laundromat!
• Wear your expensive diamond rings stone in when riding on public transportation such as subways and buses.
• Always check a taxicab's license and make sure it matches the driver BEFORE getting in.
• People, especially 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). DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to 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.
• Know where you are going and how to get there, you don't want to get lost in a bad neighborhood.
• Always trust your instincts, if you think you are being followed you probably are.  Try this experiment:  Have 3 people stare at the back of an unsuspecting person at a party. Time how long it takes for them to turn around (if they aren't inebriated), less than 10 second is typical.  There are simple techniques you can learn in order to verify if you are indeed being followed, if you insist on not believing your own instincts.
• If somebody is running after you throw your purse or wallet in the opposite direction you are running. If they go for it, you know they don't want you.
• Have your keys ready before going out to the car or leaving the car for your house door.  Don't be caught fumbling around for them when you get there.
• When 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.
• If you are parked next to a big 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.
• Get a cellular phone for your car and for yourself especially if you are a woman.
• Speed dial your emergency numbers on all of your phones.
•  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.
• ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot).
• Never get into an elevator when there is only one or two men already in it.  Pretend to be waiting for one going in the opposite direction and wait for the next one.  If a single or a couple of men get in while you are in an elevator, get out and wait for the next one.
•  If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times. And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!
• Women are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP IT! It may get you raped, or killed.
• Always make sure that a policeman is really a policeman if stopped on the road for no apparent reason.  If unsure, and especially if late at night in a rural area drive to the nearest police station, they are usually in the center of town.  Don't be afraid of using a cell phone to call for police help, if it's really them you have nothing to fear.
• Urinating, defecating or throwing up on yourself by sticking your finger down your throat can take sexual urges away from anyone.
• Never accept a drink of any kind from someone unless you know exactly what is in it, it is even dangerous to leave a drink unattended with a man you don't know well.  Many a date rape has occurred by the rapist slipping a drug into the drink, then pretending his "date" is drunk and out of it and taking them elsewhere under the pretense of being a true "gentleman" to those present. 
• It is always safer to double date when involved in a "blind date".
• Never be alone with a date unless you know them well.
• If attacked by a stranger in a public place always alert those around you that the person attacking you is a stranger to you and be specific in picking out someone to help you. Psychologically people may assume that it may be a lovers quarrel and not want to become involved. Also, if there are many witnesses to the assault, no one will feel that it is their personal responsibility to help, so be specific. For example yell out something like "You there in the red baseball cap, call the police, I don't know this guy." or "You three guys in the Giants football jerseys help get this guy away from me, I don't know him." etc.

IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.

(And better paranoid than dead.)

Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

Pat Malone (a well known self-defense specialist) tells the story of his daughter, who came out of a mall and was walking to her car when she noticed 2 older ladies in front of her.  Then she saw a police car come towards her with cops who said hello. She also noticed that all 8 handicap spots in the area were empty. As she neared her car she saw a man a few rows over calling to her for help. He wanted her to close his passenger side door. He was sitting in the back on the driver's side, and said he was handicapped. He continued calling, until she turned and headed back to the mall, and then he began cursing at her. In the meantime, she wondered why he didn't ask the 2 older ladies, or the policeman for help, and why he was not parked in any of the empty handicap spots. As she got back to the mall, two men stopped, and turned to point at the car, the man was getting out of the back seat into the front and the car sped away. DON'T GET CAUGHT IN THIS TRAP.

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HOME INVASION AND BURGLARY

HOW TO SAFEGUARD YOUR HOME AGAINST UNLAWFUL ENTRY:

• Do question politically correct myths about gun ownership.  The statistics are false because they do not take into account drug trafficking, drug addiction, alcoholism, mental or personality disorders, unwholesome sexual promiscuity (adultery), and gang related activities.  If you and your family do not fall into any of these categories the risks you will be taking are indeed minimal and can be addressed through good firearm use education. Primarily, do not let your child have access to them without supervision.  Teach all members of the family to respect a gun the same way they respect the use of fire, gas stoves, edged instruments and motor vehicles.  All these are potentially dangerous, yet also very beneficial when used correctly.  The NRA and local gun clubs are excellent resources to become educated in proper use and care of firearms. States where citizens can legally posses handguns and furthermore have a legal right to carry a concealed firearm have violent crime, murder, robbery and aggravated assault rates that are 27%, 32%, 45% and 20% respectively lower than states that prohibit or severely restrict it. (Reported by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives) In comparison, Great Britain, where a broad ban on handguns, most rifles and many shotguns took effect in 1997, the violent crime rate has risen by a staggering 69%, murder 54% and robbery by 45% since then. (Reported by the UK's Home Office)
• Dogs (any dog or breed) are wonderful and inexpensive alarm systems when trained properly.
• Neighbors are a fantastic source of security, know your neighbors well.  If they are decent law abiding citizens and most are, they will be your best defense against burglars when you are not home.  Let them know when you will be away and have them take in your mail and newspapers if they are delivered.  They are more trustworthy than someone you don't know.  They can be a great asset with teenagers.  One of my neighbors who has a teenage daughter knows he can count on knowing instantly if his daughter brings home a male companion when they aren't around.
• Neighborhood Watch programs are worth getting involved with.  If you don't have one, talk to your police department, they will inform you on how to start one.
• Always leave outdoor lights on at night around your home, not just when you are away.
• When away leave a vehicle parked in the driveway if at all possible and set some interior light on timers.
• Remember, the more noise you and your family makes in cases of break-ins, the more attention you will call upon your home, this is a good thing in cases of break-ins because now the perpetrator also has to worry about your neighbors.
• Never leave any door open or unlocked at anytime unless you are within sight of it, including garage doors.  Dead bolt locks are best.  
• Never open your door unless you know exactly who is there.  Send strange people away.  If someone has just left your home and someone knocks right after, never assume that it was the same person who just left.
• Never allow service men of any kind in unless you specifically called for them and they can verify who they are. This includes policemen (police badges and uniforms can be obtained easily enough).  This rule is especially important in hotels.
• Never leave easily accessible windows open or unlocked unless you have to.
• Never place outdoor plants or bushes in places where a person can hide behind them near your house to either enter it unseen from the road or surprise you when approaching your home.
• Always let there be good visibility between your home and the street. The more private a home seems because of woods, etc. the more likely it is to be the choice target for a criminal.
• If an alarm sounds or a well trained dog barks for no apparent reason, the more you should be resolved to investigate what is wrong.
• Never close your child's bedroom door or your own when sleeping at night.
• Place objects that can easily fall and break making plenty of noise on door handles leading into your home and window sills, etc.  The movie "Conspiracy Theory" showed one very simple technique that can even be used in a hotel room...balance an empty bottle open end down on a door handle, if the handle is turned it will fall off AND MAKE LOTS OF NOISE.
• Keep a good flashlight (and a cellular phone if possible - criminals have a habit of cutting phone lines before entering homes) by your bed at night. Don't point the flashlight directly in front of you, if possible hold it at arms length next to you.
• Don't turn on the interior lights when investigating inside your home at night. You know the layout much better than anyone else, let them stumble over something and give away their position quickly.
• Call for help immediately, before investigating if you know that chances are someone is there.
• Keep a small sized golf club by your door in your umbrella rack, they swing better than baseball bats with one hand. Never go for the head first, always the legs first.
• Familiarize yourself with all potential environmental weapons in the home, including bathroom mirrors that can be broken with a towel wrapped hand creating a nice knife-like weapon. Hair spray cans used with a small lighter can be used to send a stream of fire into a perpetrator's face like a flame thrower.  Lamps, furniture, staircases,  anything can become a useful weapon in  a bad situation.
• Create a "safe room" preferably on each floor of your home where family members can hold out until help can arrive.  Bathrooms or rooms with good locking solid doors are best. Take a cell phone in and have weapons already there waiting or know how to make them from things already there.
• If you do own a gun and use it in the event of a break in, make sure you inform the police when calling for help that you have a gun and describe who you are and what you look like and are wearing so you don't get shot by the police accidentally mistaking you for the criminal.
• When the police arrive ALWAYS DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY TELL YOU TO DO.
• Drill your family for all kinds of emergencies, including fire and break-ins.  All family members old enough to understand what to do should know in advance what to do and how to do it.

Google has implemented a new feature wherein you can type someone's telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and then you will be given a map to their house. I tested it by typing my telephone number  in google.com. (search-bar also)  My phone number came up, complete with my address and when I clicked on the MapQuest link, it actually mapped out where I live.  Quite scary. Please look up your own number. Think  about it--if a child, single person, ANYONE gives out his/her phone number, someone can actually now look it up to find out where he/she lives and how to get there from anywhere. The  safety issues are obvious, and alarming. 

PLEASE BE SAFE AND NOT SORRY! JUST A WARNING TO ALWAYS BE ALERT AND USE YOUR HEAD!!! FEEL FREE TO COPY AND SEND THIS INFORMATION TO ANYONE WHO COULD USE IT WISELY, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND PARENTS OF SMALL CHILDREN.

If you have any questions  regarding anything discussed above please feel free to contact me: senseiphil@northerncrane.net  This information has come into my hands from a variety of sources and personal experience over decades of training and training others in self-defense and martial arts. I am aware that some of my opinions may not be politically correct at this time but if this information saves just one life I will be happy to take all the criticism anyone wishes to hand out to me.

I am available for self-defense seminars and or private self-defense classes at my or any other location. Of course when I to travel to another location there is a higher fee.  Please contact me for further information.

If you are interested in having a self-defense seminar or private class please become familiar with the important information listed above before that date since we won't have enough time then to deal in detail with everything listed.  Instead we will try to clarify and answer any questions you may have regarding this information.  The core of this seminar will be dedicated to teaching simple, easy to learn and remember self-defense techniques that might make the difference between life and death for you.

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Copyright © 2003  By Phil Perez [Northern Crane]. All rights reserved.
Revised: November 07, 2006.

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