Rape does not happen because of the way a victim is dressed, or their personal appearance. When an assault occurs, it is the fault of the rapist alone – not because of anything the victim did or didn’t do. There are, however, some things that you can do to reduce your risk of becoming a victim:

Secure your home

• Change the locks when moving into a new home
• Install and use a peephole
• Consider installing an alarm system
• Keep house and car keys on separate rings if you ever valet-park your car
• Keep some rooms lit at night, and make sure your doorways and driveway are lit
• Keep draperies drawn when you’re sleeping or alone at night
• Don’t enter your home if you return home to find a door or window open

Use caution with visitors & deliveries

• Never let a child answer the door for someone you don’t know
• Ask for identification; make repairmen wait outside until you’ve checked their ID and feel safe
• Keep the door chained until you have identified the visitor
• Ask for packages to be left outside and pick them up after the delivery driver has left
• When alone, before answering the door, call out “I’ll get it, Bill!” or something similar, to give the impression that a male is in the house

Use phone safety

• Never give out personal information over the phone, or tell someone you don’t know that you’re home alone
• If a call becomes obscene, hang up immediately
• If obscene calls persist, blow a whistle loudly into the phone
• Advise the caller that you’re recording the call
• Report threatening or persistent obscene calls to the police and/or phone company

Drive safely

• Keep doors locked and windows up when alone in a car
• Use well-traveled and well-lit routes at night, rather than deserted roads
• Don’t let your car run out of gas
• If you’re being followed, pull into a police station, public place, or house with lights
• Always check your car before getting in, to see if someone is hiding in the back seat
• Don’t approach your car if a man or group is loitering around it
• If your car breaks down, lock doors and call the police – do not accept rides
• Don’t stop for a stranded motorist, which could be a trap – instead, call for help on your phone
• Exercise extreme caution walking alone in parking garages, and alert an attendant if you see anything suspicious

Practice street smarts

• If being followed while walking, cross the street, walk in another direction, or ask other people if you may walk a short way with them
• Walk near the curb and away from alleys and shrubbery
• When walking to your car or home, carry your keys in your hand, not your purse, so you have them ready and don’t have to stand outside and find them
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Be aware that walking with your arms overloaded with packages can make you vulnerable to attack
• Dress so that movement isn’t constricted and you can run if necessary
• Don’t give friendly responses to men who harass or attempt to strike up an unwanted conversation on the street – walk away briskly
• Vary your route so that a rapist can’t study your habits and routines
• Keep your back to a wall when waiting for buses or trains, so you can’t be approached from behind