The Presidents Council on Crime Prevention has a variety of publications that can be used to address problems ranging from crime against the elderly to gang activity to substance abuse. As you're heading to your car or approaching your home alone, take out your keys beforehand, but don't jiggle them. The sound of keys can alert possible attackers that you're heading home. Hang up immediately on obscene callers or strangers who ask questions regarding private matters. Many such callers are seeking an emotional response and will discontinue their harassment if you avoid a reaction of fear or anger.
Police say a solid steel bike lock is strongest.
A cordless phone actually broadcasts your conversation via a radio transmitter between the handset and the corded base unit. If you need to discuss personal or intimate information, or account numbers, wait until you get to a phone with a corded handset. An alarm that sounds only on the premises is far less effective than one that is transmitted to a central-monitoring station that immediately summons help. Ask the resident adviser of the dorm not to post residents' names, room numbers and phone numbers together in any location where casual visitors or passers-by can see this information. Rapists often look for a victim who appears hesitant, fearful or tipsy.