4) Personal possessions:

Your Mum and dad have probably told you a million times about carrying all your valuables in your handbag or in one place and there’s a very good reason for that!

The amount of ladies I see and meet in beautifully tailored and fitted suits and yet they don’t have a single usable pocket! Try to distribute your goods about you.

Remember, if your handbag gets snatched your entire life is literally in there. purse, credit cards, keys to your home, probably mobile telephone, which is then a “double whammy” because you’re now unable to make any calls and chances are you have no change because it’s all in your handbag as well.

Worse still, if you do keep everything in your handbag what’s to stop your assailant rushing straight around to your home because you’ll probably have something in there with your address (like a driving licence) and ransacking your home as well, “triple whammy” and then perhaps finding your car keys and taking that as well “quadruple whammy”.

Find a way to distribute your belongings it makes sense.

Finally if there is no way out don’t be hero, simply hand over your bag immediately using strong body language and disengage from the situation forcefully if necessary.

Goods can always be replaced, you can’t!

3) Voice: Don’t be afraid to use your voice!

It’s one of your most potent weapons!

An assailant is looking for a “victim” an easy target, someone to be intimidated.

Use your voice forcefully and don’t be afraid to scream and shout (in fact in my presentations I wholeheartedly endorse the use of “profanity” or swear words) as this will again serve to highlight your plight!

How many times have you walked down the street and either stopped or slowed down if someone is having a “right old barney” in the street.

2) Personal attack alarm:

Buy one and if possible go on a course and learn how to use it.

There’s no point having one if it’s kept at the bottom of your handbag and you have to search to locate it. It’s not going to stop you being attacked but it can help to disorientate or distract your assailant buying you those precious seconds to get to a place of safety.

Once it goes off don’t think that anyone will to help you, most people just don’t do that but the sound of the alarm going off will serve a double purpose.

One, As stated previously, it will deter or distract your assailant, two, it will also generate a terrific noise so that even if no one comes to your aid at least you’ve created a “stage” for yourself and people will look so you won’t feel as alone.

1) Body Language:

55% of any message we give out is “unconscious” and we are constantly giving out these signals on a regular and daily basis and other people are “reading” our body language all the time. If you constantly walk around in a “slouched”  position, head low and generally not paying much attention to your surroundings, what kind of signal do you think you’re sending out?

That’s right, “come and get me” I know that sounds harsh but is fact, if you’re walking down the street oblivious to everything apart from your mobile telephone or busy texting as you’re walking along you’re a target.

Try to be aware at all times, stand erect, walk straight, don’t necessarily look people straight in the eyes but let them know that you know that they are there.

Try not to take isolated shortcuts no matter how tempting across waste ground, dark alleys or parks and try to stay in public view.

PAY ATTENTION!