Your days of hopping in the car for a quick run to the store are gone – now that you’re a mom.  Now that you have a new baby almost everything you do, you’ll have to think about it in a different light.

As you enter and exit stores consider these simple steps. Avoid parking next to a van.  The extra effort could save your life.  A van is a large object that could block the view of any wrong doing.

As you walk to and from your vehicle, hold your keys so that the pointy key part is sticking out from your first and second finger.  If someone approaches you from behind, you can easily turn around to poke out an eye or scratch the neck or face with the key.

Never leave your baby in the cart alone – even for a few seconds.  Keep your hands on the cart at all times.  It does not matter that you have the cart and the baby in view.

No matter how much you would love a hand from a well meaning stranger, do not accept. If someone tells you that you just dropped some money – keep walking. That trick has been used before to get women to stop long enough to be snatched.

If you end up in an elevator with someone, look that person directly in the eye and comment on something about their physical description.  Say “my husband has deep green eyes like yours.”  Or “did that tattoo hurt?”  Asking such questions lets the other person know that you could identify them.  They’ll think twice before following through on any previous plans to cause you harm.

There is no need to be fearful of shopping trips.  Just be smart and don’t let yourself be a victim.