Bringing Some NYC Savvy To Downtown Santiago
Results of an opinion poll conducted by Chilean daily La Tercera and published on June 30 reveal that 51 percent of Chileans believed they would be victims of crime sometime within the next year, June 2008-June 2009. That figure rises to a whopping 56 percent for Santiaguinos living in the south of Santiago and drops to 38 percent for those living in eastern, more upper-class Santiago.
Further, 41 percent say that south Santiago is probably the least secure place to live, while those living in east Santiago say they think their neighborhood will become less secure in the coming years. Respondents also said that reporting crimes against citizens or property to local police authorities has done nothing to reduce these numbers.
This has led 52 percent of homeowners to invest large sums of money in buying and installing the latest high-tech security devices in their homes.
I was a victim of a crime this past December. I was robbed of my camera while I was
walking home after seeing a performance of the Nutcracker at the Municipal Theater in downtown Santiago. While I bemoan the loss of the camera, a gift from a dear friend, I was also equally upset with myself for not taking the necessary measures I always used when I lived in New York City to better protect myself from a possible robbery or mugging when I came home late at night. More on what I should have and should not have done later.
It was after fighting off two young men who were trying to force their way into the lobby of the building where I lived in New York City that I realized I had better do something about protecting myself better, or I would never leave my apartment again. And I do so love my city! Thank God my neighbor happened to get off the elevator just at the right time. He quickly joined me in trying to push the door shut behind me as the two young men kept trying to force it open and get in. I know that this must have gone on for just a few seconds, but to me it seemed an eternity!
Shouts of help brought other neighbors into the lobby – we didn't have a doorman at the time. Screams of “You call the police!” and “You help keep this door closed!” scared them off.
At this time, I was a sitting board member of the cooperative where I lived. In this capacity, I called the local police precinct and inquired about having someone come and talk to the residents of the cooperative at our next regularly scheduled board meeting. The topic for discussion was how to better protect ourselves from a possible crime. The recommendations fell into the following categories:
How to Protect Yourself at Home
1. For ladies in particular: Always have your keys in your hand when approaching your front door. Do not wait until you are almost there to start to search for your keys in your pocketbook – the last place they should be at this moment. This is exactly what potential attackers are looking for. You have now become an easy target because you are distracted and your pocketbook is already open. In addition, you are now in danger beyond being robbed of the possessions you are carrying; the thieves may force you to take them into your apartment or home to see what else they can take away with them.
And, ladies, sorry to have to remind you, you now have left yourself open to the possibility of rape, especially if no one else is at home.
The same rule holds true for men. Your keys should not be inside your briefcase or backpack but in your hands, ready to open your door as soon as you get there.
2. For Apartment-Dwellers Where There is No Doorman:
a. Do not let anyone in unless you know who they are and/or you are expecting them. If it is a service call, always ask for proper identification.
b. Another ploy often used is someone ringing your bell and saying they are looking for someone else but forget what apartment they live in. Do not – under any circumstances – buzz them in. Tell them in your most authoritative voice it is against house rules to let anyone into the building unless one knows the person. This will also help to deter this person from trying this on your neighbors.
c. In a building with an elevator, if someone you are not familiar with walks into your lobby with you, do not take the elevator with that person. Act as if you are going to visit someone on the first or street floor, or go to your mailbox. Then observe what they do next. If they take the elevator up, fine. You wait for another elevator and then go up or have someone come down and get you.
3. For all: Get to know your neighbors. Hold lobby meetings and discuss these issues together. Map out a plan and get everyone to agree to it. Impress upon your neighbors how important it is for all of you to work together to ensure a safe environment for all.
4. If you own your own home, install a security devise. Place the decal advertising that your home is secured with this devise where it can be easily seen. This can be a very effective deterrent. Remember, it is our job to make it as difficult as possible for petty thieves to get into our homes and apartments.
Tips For Walking Home Or Going Out Alone
1. The police speaker kept impressed upon us the most important thing – we must not look vulnerable! This is especially true for women. If walking alone, give off an aura of confidence and bravado. Walk fast, be aware of your surroundings and don’t be afraid to look, run and yell for help if need be. Petty criminals are always on the lookout for an easy mark. They will not approach someone if they think that person will give them a hard time or possibly fight back.
2. Try to avoid walking down dark, empty streets by yourself. Walk on well-lit and busy streets. In fact, if you are walking on the side of the street where there is no one, cross over and join the crowd on the other side. If you have no choice, wait until you see if there is someone else going in your direction and walk alongside or close to them. Even ask if you can walk with them. I have done this on several occasions.
3. Trust your instincts; listen to your gut! If you come out of the Metro, a movie, a restaurant, a bank, or another place of business and you sense something is not right or someone close by looks suspicious, go with your instincts. Go back inside and wait a bit, or stand near the security guard if one is close by. Call someone to come and get you if necessary.
4. Keep your valuables out of sight. Protect your valuables and yourself by using a little common sense and waiting until you get to wherever it is you are going to show off your expensive and lovely possessions.
5. Men should try to keep their wallets in an inside pocket and not in their back pants pockets. Ladies should hug their pocketbooks close to their bodies and not let them hang or swing from an arm or hand. This is the easiest form of robbery there is and can cause bodily harm if someone tries to snatch your bag and begins to pull in one direction while you pull in the other. Many women, especially older ones, have suffered broken hands, wrists, arms and even hips as a consequence of this type of assault. The best advice here is to let go.
6. So, they have already taken your pocketbook, camera, cell phone or wallet. Do not try to fight with them unless you are a black belt in karate or a lightweight boxer in training. Do not try running after them, either. Instead, try to remember what they look like. This information is vital for the filing of your police report. Sometimes – and this has also happened to me – thieves will take what they need and dump your bag or wallet nearby. If you have filed a police report, you may get your possessions returned to you.
So, what did I do wrong the night they stole my camera? First, I was walking on a poorly lit and deserted street and not paying any attention to my surroundings. Secondly, my camera was in my hand, and I was swinging it back and forth as I walked. As I joked and talked to my friend, someone came up behind me and snatched the camera out of my hand. Could I have been an easier target? I would never have done this in New York, and after this experience, I will never do it in Chile, either.
By Ada Letelier