We’ve all heard those horror stories about people who are in the parking lot and accosted, who have their car stolen or something equally heinous. While no one wants to be frightened of everyday situations, it simply makes good sense to take every step that you can to protect yourself and your family from the foolishness that exists in the world today.

The best way to stay safe and keep your family safe is to pay attention. That’s another one of those common sense things that we shouldn’t have to be told, but it bears repeating. Avoid situations that will put you in danger, and make sure that you know what’s around you, and have a means to get out of the way if you need to. The smartest people, the ones who stay safe for the most part, are those who take note of their surroundings. They see what is around them before they get out of the car, when they get into it, when they leave a store, or when they leave their home.

Those folks don’t neglect that nagging feeling that something is not the way it appears to be. They pay attention not only to who is around them when they enter a darkened area, but what is around them too.

Keeping your eyes peeled for anything that might present a danger to you is just good sense. No, you don’t want to suspect anyone of anything nefarious, and you certainly don’t want to profile anyone. Still, it is common sense to conclude that if there are twenty teens wearing bandanas over their faces on the corner that you don’t want to stop there and walk down the block to your Pilates class at 8 at night.

If you must travel at night, particularly in urban areas, play it safe. Watch what’s around you. Make a mental note of people in the area when you get out of your car or train and give them plenty of room.