It seems that every time I turn on the news or check a news website, the head line story is a tragic crime that happened to the person next door. That story is quickly followed by more stories of robberies, murders, and other violent crimes that can happen to you.

So what is one to do… stop watching the news, continue watching but say it can’t happen to me, lock yourself inside, or be safe and make smart choices.

I choose the later. When people find out that I live in a city with a negative stereotype based on facts from 10-15 years ago, their reactions range from disbelief to scolding. I have never once felt threatened in my surroundings, but I do take precautions to ensure my safety. Because of this, I can enjoy my neighborhood and what it has to offer without fear.

I try not to walk alone at night. If I do, I make sure I have my keys and phone ready. I took a self defense class. And most importantly, I inform myself of crimes that do occur in the neighborhood so I know what to look for.

Local news sources offer the most relevant information for residents of a particular neighborhood. Boulevardizen.com [1] (formerly 10sboulevard.com) does an excellent job of pulling crime stories from a variety of local news sources and presenting them in a non-alarming way for their readers in the Museum District and along the Boulevard.

Lt. McTernan of the Richmond Police Department (RPD) runs the Sector 311 blog [2] and posts crime reports and tips for citizens. Lt. McTernan gives the following tips for incidents that commonly occur in that area:

For crimes such as residential burglary:

• Keep exterior lights on at night.
• Keep your doors & windows locked when you leave your home.
• Keep your windows clear of overgrown shrubs/trees.
• When you're away from your home be sure to close your blinds/curtains on the ground floor of your home so that prying eyes can't evaluate what you have inside.
• Record the make/model/serial number of all your valuable electronics.
• Take photos of your valuables such as expensive jewelry/antiques/art etc. Keep those photos in a safe place (like a safety deposit box at your bank if possible).
• Remember that RPD is always available to do a “site assessment” if you or one of your neighbors feels they would like us to evaluate any safety threat that the exterior of their home may present for them.

Theft from Motor Vehicles:

• Never…ever leave valuables inside your vehicle. Jewelry, loose change, iPods, laptops, clothing, GPS systems, cell phones, music Cd’s, etc are all an invitation to a would be thief!

Individual Robbery:

• Look around be fully aware of your surroundings.
• Strangers are not you friend. Go eyeball to eyeball with anyone that approaches you.  ‘dipped’ head says, “I’m subordinate.”
• If someone looks suspicious – stay in your locked car or cross the street.
• Don't be afraid to yell out is someone frightens you…you can always apologize later if necessary.
• If you are confronted, don’t fight, give them what they want. Your life is far more valuable than any “material” item they can take from you.

So I tell those people who are shocked about where I live that with this information and awareness, I feel armed and ready to live my life and go about my daily routine without unreasonable fear.