The Oracle offers tips on protecting yourself and your home

• Trust your instincts. Your intuition, combined with your common sense, can help get you out of trouble. If you suddenly feel like you’re being watched, your intuition telling you something. Your common sense tells you that it’s a good idea to get back to where there are more people around.
• Travel in a group when going out at night. Remember, strength in numbers.
• Don’t wear excessive amounts of jewelry or flashy clothes that attract attention.
• Beware of locations where you are vulnerable to crime, such as dark parking lots and secluded walkways.
• Understand your surroundings. Walk or hang out in areas that are open, well-lit and well-traveled. Pay particular attention to places where someone could hide—such as stairways and bushes.
• Turn the other cheek. A common ploy of the mugger is distraction. Often they will work in pairs, with one asking the mark for the time, and then another approaches you from the blind side. Train yourself to look away and be aware of what and who is immediately around you.
• Lock your car and close the windows, even if you are only gone for a few minutes.

• Light up the front, back and side of the house plus the garage area with motion detector lights. Few homes with such lighting are ever hit by burglars.
• Sliding doors are used frequently by burglars to enter the house. There should be two locks on such doors. You can also put a sliding board or broom handle braced inside the track to prevent the door from opening from the outside.
• A barking dog at night is a signal that someone may be prowling.
• Put computers and computer games away from the windows and prying eyes.
• Close all of your windows whenever you leave home. It does not matter how short of a trip you are going on—all doors and windows should be locked whenever you leave home.
• Do not display your name on the mailbox. A burglar will be able to locate your telephone number from it and call your house to see if you are home.
• Try not to put large displays of holiday gifts visible from windows or doors.
• It’s also a good idea to get help from your neighbors. Ask them to keep an eye on your home while you’re away.