Published: October 02, 2009 05:39 pm      

DAY:Protect yourself

With the recent beating of a Greentown resident in her own home, I feel the need to let others know why and how to protect yourself and family whenever needed. I will maybe upset a few with my advice, but we are living in a time and age where you sometimes cannot be safe around good friends, let alone the bad ones.

In my home and on my property, I have equalizers just in case I need them to ward off those who would take the chance to beat or hurt me and any other member of my family.

We here in Kokomo and Howard County have a great security group comprising of our city police and the sheriff’s department. However, they sometimes need some help, and that is where you and I come in.

Anytime we see a vehicle parked that we don’t recognize, we should write down the plate numbers and the make of that car. If we see anyone whom we do not know, we should keep an eye out just in case they are up to no good. And if we hear someone at the door, we need to take a good look through the curtains to see who it is before we open that door.

Keep your doors locked at all times, even though you might be going out for just a second. We are living in a time where drug users, gang members and scam artists are lurking in the shadows, just waiting for that chance to break in your home, car or outbuildings. You cannot leave anything to chance, because that is the time when you could pay with your life or your worldly possessions.

Older folks in our neighborhoods need to know that they are safe, and we as neighbors can do our part to protect them. If first aid should be needed and the patient taken to the hospital, we as neighbors should watch their home for them. If there is a death in a family, they don’t need the worry of protecting their property during the funerals.

Many will close their eyes and minds when it comes to helping friends and neighbors. They don’t want to get involved, and I can see that. But crime is getting worse each year because there are those who would rather steal and kill instead of finding a job to make their living on.

As I stated before, I do have equalizers in each room of my home and also outside. I wouldn’t hesitate to use them if needed to protect myself and my family.

You might think I am going extreme, and you might be right. But these are extreme times, and you don’t have eyes in the back of your head. You worked a long time getting to where you are. Just one visit from the bad guys could cause you many hardships.

So in a nutshell, be aware of your area, be prepared to defend yourself, and help our law enforcement bring the bad guys to justice. When it comes to body and property security, you are the ones who need to adjust to the situations and protect yourselves.

I have known many of our police officers and also the sheriffs and deputies, and they do a fine job. It wouldn’t hurt to give them some assistance whenever the need is present. Do you care enough to do the very best or will you just look the other way?

I am one of the older generation who comes from a time when neighbors watched out for others. Our doors did not need to be locked during the daytime. People did not steal to eat, they worked for it. Life can still be a safe one if we stand up and say enough. Know your friends and be aware of your enemies. Be safe.

• Ray “Uncle Ray” Day is a weekly contributor to the Kokomo Tribune. Contact him at uncleray@earthlink.net or (765) 457-3819.