Staying safe on the street

Young people like you, can often become the victims of crime. But with a little care and thought you can reduce the chances of it happening. Here are some tips to help you stay safe:

• Keep valuables, like purses, wallets and mobile phones in your pocket or in a handbag (preferably one with a strap which goes across your shoulder), this makes it harder for criminals to grab your belongings.
• Keep your ipod or MP3 player under your coat or outer garment, this makes it dificult to grab. Remember when you are listening to it in the street you cannot always hear what is going on around you and you are unlikely to be concentrating on what is happening at that time!
• Avoid using your mobile in the street - you become very visible and the phone is easier to snatch. You are also likely to be distracted simply by being on the phone.
• If you are spending money in a shop put all your change and purse or wallet away before you leave the shop.
• If you visit a cash machine, do not let anyone see you enter your pin number. Do not get distracted by anyone. When you get your cash put it away immediately - if it needs sorting do it later, not on the street.
• If you pay for anything in a shop using a card and you are asked to enter the pin number do it in such away that no-one else can see your number, do not be afraid to shield the pad with your hand.
• When you are walking down the street keep your eyes open and look out for what or who may be ahead of you. If there are a large number of people, for example acting in a rowdy manner, maybe someone you do not want to see, or someone who's drunk or behaving in a strange manner, then cross over the road in good time to avoid them. Or consider taking an alternative route. Or step into a shop until they have passed by.
• If someone is acting in a strange manner avoid getting eye contact with them.
• It is a good idea to put the letters 'ICE' (which stands for In Case of Emergency) in your mobile phone directory and then a number of someone you would want to be called if an emergency happened. Then if someone found your telephone or if you were involved in an accident anyone finding your phone could ring that number.