Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a true crime junkie. I am obsessed with listening to and researching true crime cases. I have been this way for several years now, so I proudly say that I know of hundreds of cases, both infamous and lesser known.

The reason why this is one of my hobbies is because I believe it’s important to be aware of how important it is to take precautions to prevent yourself from being a victim of kidnapping, murder or some other wrongdoing. Of course, there have been cases where people were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, or there might not have been any precautions to be taken.

It sounds almost crazy, but heinous crimes happen more often than most think.

As a young woman, I am well aware of the risks of being a young woman. I was raised to know how to protect myself; keys between my fingers, scream fire instead of help to get people’s attention, don’t travel alone, carry a weapon etc.

The sad part about it is that this is common amongst women. We can’t just go on a walk alone, travel somewhere alone, or let our guards down. As sad as it is, it is just a part of living in this world. I am by no means negating the terrible things that have happened to some men. I am simply just stating the facts that women are at a higher risk of being a victim of a horrible crime.

First, I’d like to push that we all need to have someone close to us, or several people, that have our location at all times. This is so if anything were to happen to you, at least someone can see where you last were or where your phone last was.

It’s also important to be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of who is around you, where you are, and what is going on around you. It’s common for people to be a victim of a crime because they weren’t aware of their environment. You never know what could be going on around you or who could be around.

Lastly, if you see something, say something. The bystander effect is definitely a thing, and many times we will assume someone else will do something. Chances are, that won’t happen. Even if you might be wrong about a situation, at least you tried to do or say something in case it was a serious situation.

Stay safe out there.