The Complete Guide To Personal And Home Safety What You Need To Know

by Snow, Robert

• ISBN13: 9780738207865
• ISBN10: 0738207861
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-10-02
• Publisher: Da Capo Press

Summary

Now more than ever, Americans are aware of threats to their personal safety and are searching for ways to protect themselves and their loved ones. Newly updated since the events of September 11 with important information on mail contamination and travel security, The Complete Guide to Personal and Home Safety is the most comprehensive guide on personal and home security available. Captain Snow, a seasoned police officer, guides readers in developing their own safety plans--from how to choose a home alarm system to what to do in the case of a missing person. Covering everything from the most common crimes of larceny and traffic accidents to the unlikely but frightening possibilities of hostage situations and assault, The Complete Guide to Personal and Home Safety offers readers the knowledge and strategies they need to handle any situation that may arise.

Author Biography

Captain Robert L. Snow is presently head of the Homicide Branch of the Indianapolis Police Department and has been a police officer in Indianapolis for over 30 years. During this time he has worked as a field officer, field sergeant, field lieutenant, field captain, Coordinator for the Field Training Officer Program, Commander of the Planning and Research Branch, Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police, Police Department Executive Officer, and Captain of Detectives. He is the acclaimed author of STOPPING A STALKER; FAMILY ABUSE; SWAT TEAMS; and PROTECTING YOUR LIFE, HOME AND PROPERTY; and has contributed articles to a wide variety of publications, including Reader’s Digest, the Writer, Action Digest, the National Enquirer, the Saint Magazine, Law and Order, and Police, among others. Captain Snow graduated summa cum laude from Indiana University with degrees in criminal justice and psychology. He lives with his wife Melanie, a narcotics detective, in Indianapolis.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xi
Prologue	p. xiii
The Truth About the Police	p. 1
The Scenario	p. 1
The Truth	p. 3
Mistakes and Distortions	p. 4
Successful Interaction	p. 15
Best Advice	p. 15
Assault and Murder	p. 17
Who Commits Assault and Murder?	p. 17
Motivation for Assault and Murder	p. 18
Warning Signs	p. 19
Weapons of Assault and Murder	p. 25
Likelihood of Assault and Murder	p. 26
Homicide Investigation	p. 28
Best Advice	p. 37
Rape, Child Molestation, and Other Sex Crimes	p. 39
Motivation for Rape	p. 39
FBI Study of Serial Rapists	p. 40
Reporting Rape	p. 42
Resisting Rape	p. 45
Rape Safety Tips	p. 46
After a Rape	p. 54
Child Molestation--A Hidden National Problem	p. 57
Molester-Victim Relationships	p. 59
Methods Used by Child Molesters	p. 60
Child Sexual Abuse Investigation	p. 62
Child Molestation Prevention	p. 64
Myths About Sex Crimes	p. 68
Best Advice	p. 69
Robbery	p. 71
Types of Robbery	p. 71
Motivations for Robbery	p. 74
Methods Used by Robbers	p. 76
Robbery Investigation	p. 79
Likelihood of Robbery	p. 84
Avoiding Robbery	p. 84
Best Advice	p. 87
Terrorism and Hostage Situations	p. 89
Terrorism	p. 89
Bioterrorism	p. 95
Hostage-Taking Incidents	p. 97
Types of Hostage Takers	p. 98
Police Response to Hostage Incidents	p. 102
The Stockholm Syndrome	p. 107
Surviving a Hostage Situation	p. 110
Avoiding Becoming a Hostage	p. 114
Best Advice	p. 116
Residence Burglary	p. 117
The Reality of Burglary	p. 117
Types of Burglars	p. 118
Signs Burglars Look For	p. 120
Discouraging Burglars	p. 122
Dangers of Burglary	p. 123
Burglary Investigation	p. 124
Burglary Prevention	p. 126
High-Risk Homes	p. 131
Home Security Devices and Systems	p. 134
The Best Alarm Systems	p. 138
Drawbacks of Alarm Systems	p. 139
Before You Purchase an Alarm System	p. 141
Best Advice	p. 142
Larceny and Vehicle Theft	p. 143
Larceny Statistics	p. 143
Motivations for Larceny	p. 144
Types of Larceny	p. 146
Larceny Investigation	p. 150
Vehicle Theft	p. 151
Motivations for Vehicle Theft	p. 153
Methods Used by Car Thieves	p. 153
Auto Theft Investigation	p. 155
Larceny and Vehicle Theft Prevention	p. 157
Best Advice	p. 160
Frauds, Cons, and Scams	p. 161
The Con	p. 161
Selecting Victims	p. 162
Common Scams	p. 163
Identity Theft	p. 170
Fraud Investigation	p. 172
Defenses Against Frauds, Cons, and Scams	p. 173
Best Advice	p. 175
Substance Abuse	p. 177
America's Substance Abuse Problem	p. 177
Substance Abuse and Crime	p. 179
What Can Be Done?	p. 182
Effective Programs	p. 188
Drunk and Drugged Drivers	p. 191
Spotting Drunk and Drugged Drivers	p. 193
Evasive Actions	p. 197
Best Advice	p. 198
Children in Trouble with the Law	p. 199
Kids in Trouble	p. 199
Types of Families	p. 200
What to do When Children Get into Trouble with the Law	p. 204
Children Who Care for Themselves	p. 206
Gangs	p. 207
Best Advice	p. 209
Missing Persons	p. 211
Waiting Periods and Priorities	p. 211
Runaway Statistics	p. 214
A Success Story	p. 215
How the Police Find a Missing Person	p. 216
Independent Actions	p. 219
Parental Kidnapping	p. 221
Stranger Abduction	p. 224
Best Advice	p. 227
The Police and Motor Vehicles	p. 229
Traffic Tickets	p. 229
Being Stopped by the Police	p. 231
Traffic Violator Cues	p. 234
Speeding and Radar Detectors	p. 235
Leeways and Allowances	p. 238
Motorists' Actions	p. 239
Traffic Accidents	p. 245
Best Advice	p. 247
Being Arrested	p. 249
The Arrest	p. 249
Best Response	p. 250
The Three "C's"	p. 254
Getting Released	p. 257
Getting Someone Released	p. 259
Going to Court	p. 260
Complaints Against the Police	p. 261
Best Advice	p. 262
Citizen Involvement in Crime Prevention	p. 263
Citizen Expectations	p. 263
Citizen Volunteers	p. 265
Types of Volunteer Work in Law Enforcement	p. 266
Crime Watch and Crime Stoppers	p. 268
Guardian Angels	p. 272
Best Advice	p. 272
A Final Thought	p. 273
Epilogue: When Is It Safe?	p. 275
Index	p. 283
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