News appearing on a popular National TV Channel a few days ago was:
“Police are investigating a home invasion in Debe where a couple was robbed at gunpoint by two armed men. The incident reportedly took place around 1.30 a.m. on Tuesday. The couple – a 39-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man – were in bed sleeping when two men stormed the premises. One man, armed with a firearm, pointed the weapon at the couple and ordered them to lie down face down on their bed. Both men then ransacked the victims’ bedroom and proceeded to rob them of a quantity of jewelry, as well as a quantity of cash. The suspects then escaped on foot.”
Another similar news disclosed that: “The Neelankarai police have arrested a 37-year-old cab driver on charges of raping several women whom he lured with gifts while they were waiting alone in bus stops and other public places. Police said S. Suresh Kumar, a call-taxi driver of Kannagi Nagar, was tracked down after a woman registered a complaint with the police alleging that she was sexually assaulted inside a car near Neelankarai on Sunday afternoon. Inspector Natarajan nabbed the accused within hours as the victim gave them the vehicle’s registration number. A police officer said the modus operandi of the suspect was that he would target lone women whom he identified while driving around the city. He would approach the women, claiming that his relatives who were performing special pujas wanted young women to attend it, so that they could give away silk saris and gold. Women who fell for his story would get into his car, upon which he would lock the doors and drive them to an undisclosed location. There, he sexually assaulted the victims at knifepoint and pushed them out, after robbing them of their valuables.”
Perhaps, these incidents are not stand-alone incidents. Be it home or you are to travel in a taxi, most of the cities, and perhaps all the Metros, are not safe for women. Every day, you read numerous news in the newspaper or watch on TV the incidents of rascals robbing ladies while they are at home or on the road.
Despite a Pandora of laws in the name of women’s protection, there is hardly any day that goes incident and you have a sigh of relief.
There are situations when you are alone at home or have to travel alone in a taxi or your own car. With a little precaution, you can avoid any possible untoward or an unfortunate incident. Try to follow the following tips and secure your safety.
Don’t allow any unknown person to enter your home:
Most of the unfortunate incidents occur when a woman is alone at home. Any unknown visitor at your place is not by chance. Rather, they carefully scan your home and the entire neighborhood and select a time when you could be alone. Whosoever be this unknown person, never open the door and give him a chance to harm you.
Don’t employ a maid who is new in the area:
Another modus operandi followed by the unscrupulous people is, they send a maid or a domestic help in your place. They already know that you’re looking for such help and would employ the maid or a servant. In fact, she is not alone, but a member of the gang engaged in robbing the house ladies when they are alone.
Because such maids work at your place, they are aware of your valuables, keys, cash, and the time when you are alone. They pass on your entire information to the male members of the group who may make you the target at the well-selected time.
Therefore, it’s important to employ only such maids or servants who hail from your area and you can verify their credentials.
Use social media platforms carefully:
Social sites are a vital source of your personal information for all those who are looking to trap you in their nets. Always avoid disclosing your mobile no. residential address or about the complete details of your workplace. You should also accept friend requests with caution lest you’re trapped by scandalous people.
Hire a taxi carefully, not in haste
Whether it’s daytime or night, always enter into a taxi after watching it carefully. Important things that you should take care of are:
- Number plates are well written, not covered with dust or soil and the number can be easily read from a distance.
- All the outside and inside door handles are intact and can be operated smoothly. Never enter into a taxi with door handles removed or broken. You won’t be able to come out of such a taxi on your own.
- Don’t hire a taxi whose driver is drunk.
- Don’t hire a taxi with blackened window pans.
- Before sitting in the taxi, take a picture of the front and rear number plates and save it on your smartphone. If possible, what app, is it to someone at the departing, as well as at the destination place.
- If you’re new in the area, always use Google Drive so that you are not taken on the wrong route.
- If you suspect any foul play, drop the taxi before it leaves the city area. Don’t hesitate or be afraid, act boldly.
Avoid providing a lift to the unknown:
If you’re traveling in your car, avoid providing a lift to a person whom you don’t know. Whatever his/her compulsion, but that’s not more important than your own safety. Obviously, a person asking for help on the roadside has the option to hire a taxi. You need not stop your vehicle and listen to his pretexts.
These simple precautions can save you from landing in trouble.
