We at Assam police have the greatest concern for your safety and security. Given below are some suggestions that we feel will go a long way in addressing those concerns.

At Home

1. As far as possible, have only one access door to the house and keep the rest, if any, securely bolted from inside. For securing the door use high caliber locks and/or wooden or metal strips across the door.

2. Have wide angled peepholes and door chains installed on the access door.

3. You are most vulnerable when answering the door at home. Do not answer the door automatically but try to check the identity of the visitor by observing through an adjacent window or through the peephole.

4. While answering the front door do not switch on the hall light. You should also not be in the light while peeping through the peephole or while observing through the window.

5. Discourage children from answering the door, especially after darkness.

6. Ensure that all doors are made secure with locks and bolts. Also keep any possible access window locked.

7. After dark keep curtains and blinds closed.

8. If caller arouses suspicion do not open the door. Ask as many questions as you may to ascertain his bona fide. If suspicion prevails ask another member of the household to ring up the neighbours and/or emergency phone nos. while you keep the visitor engaged. If the phone is found dead/disconnected use a mobile phone if you have one and if the service is available in your area.

9. Have your neighbours' and emergency phone nos. like the nearest police station, police control room, Superintendent of police, fire brigade, hospitals (check the phone directory on this site) handy near the phone.

10. Every night before retiring, make a safety check to ensure that all doors and windows are locked. Also ensure that the cooking gas cylinder is turned off.

11. Adequate lighting outside as well as inside the house at night is a likely deterrent to the intruders. Install protected electric lighting of the periphery and building to ensure visibility near the compound wall and the building.

12. A light should be kept burning in the area of the front door during the night. Switch for the light should be inside the house.

13. While going out at night prepare for your return in advance and leave the garage light and approach light outside on.

14. Other forms of security lighting like flood lights at vantage points, which can be turned on in emergency or when the suspicion arises, may also be installed.

15. Place the phone in such a position that it cannot be observed through windows or doors, particularly the front door, while making a call. A bed-extension and/or a cordless with back-up battery is also advisable.

16. If the telephone becomes out of order, report it at once and be vigilant until it is repaired.

17. Brief the members of the household to note the caller's name and phone no. so that a return call can be made. In case of suspicion, make the return call immediately.

18. Be alert if there is an increasing number of strange phone calls (silent calls, alleged 'wrong calls' etc.) and report the matter to the police. Do not follow a set routine of of only one person of the household answering the call.

19. In case of threat or anonymous phone calls do not panic or cut off the call. Note the exact time of call and duration. Identify the caller or person/ organization. After the call is over please note down the exact words of the person making the call, sex and estimated age of the caller, voice tone and attitude of the caller (loud, soft, articulate, angry, calm, intoxicated, threatening, serious, joking, warning etc.), any background noises (street sound, music, party, train, office sounds etc.), accent and if possible ethnic origin. Intimate these facts to the police immediately.

20. If phone tapping is suspected, have the installation checked.

21. Check from time to time whether your phone is working.

22. Keep a strict check on your house key. Take care of the second key of the pair that you got with the lock.

23. Do not trust the workmen and check their identity before admitting them into the house and ensure that someone oversees their work during their stay inside the house. It should also be ensured that they have finally gone from the house under supervision.

24. Servants should not be allowed to bring their friends, relatives and other unauthorized persons into the premises.

25. Always employ your servants from reliable contacts. Before getting him for the job note down his full address and get it verified through the nearest police station.

26. A domestic help who had been previously employed without any complaint or suspicion by a known and reliable employer can be engaged with obvious advantage.

27. Have the servant photographed before engaging him and keep the photograph secured.

28. When you have to be on tour for a few days leaving behind only old people, women or children with servants at home, intimate the nearest police station and leave behind your phone no.

29. Do not let the servants overhear your private conversations with the family or colleague on important matters.

30. When you dismiss a domestic servant for misconduct please intimate the fact to the local police.

31. Have the identity and bona fide of the person established before letting out your house to him. Note down his address and intimate the fact to the nearest police station. If he was staying at some other place check up from his earlier landlord if what he says is correct.

32. Very late callers whether known or unknown should be treated with suspicion. Maybe someone concealed from your view is forcing him to get the door opened.

33. Never accept gifts from strangers, nor parcels delivered which were not ordered.

34. Be suspicious of change of postman, milkman or other regular delivery personnel.

35. Keep the area around your house tidy so that unusual or suspicious objects can be noticed.

36. A dog is an asset for home security. A barking dog will discourage intruders and also warn you of their presence. A stranger's door bell without barking of the dog is a suspect. Look for the dog before answering the door.

37. Inform the police of the presence of any suspicious vehicle or person near your home. Note the physical characteristics of the persons, description and registration number of such vehicles.

38. Employ only mature and responsible baby-sitters, who are trustworthy. Ensure that they know where you can be reached in case of emergency and brief them on emergency telephone nos. away from home and others

39. For traveling, plan your journey well in time but do not publicize it unnecessarily. Prepare a checklist of items to carry and works to do.

40. Always travel by air/rail in your own name. It saves a lot of trouble later in case of accidents, etc.

41. Please ensure that a card is made with your photograph, name and address, ph no., blood group, information on allergy, any disease suffering from etc. and is always kept in your and in your children's pocket while in journey or while away from home.

42. Before embarking on a road journey, get your vehicle checked by a competent mechanic and always check the toolkit, spare tyre etc. and carry emergency spare items like fan belt, fuses, accelerator and clutch wires, head light bulbs, road map etc.

43. Instruct children to cross the road at zebra crossings after ensuring clear traffic on both directions of the road.

44. Always cross the road at a right angle. This gives a better judgment of your movement to the driver.

45. Respect the pedestrian's right of way. While driving, be extra cautious at school, hospital and bus stops. Be very careful while crossing a standing vehicle, someone may suddenly come in your way from behind the vehicle.

46. Use the horn while crossing a road tri-junction on the highway where the view of the side road is obstructed and at blind turns.

47. Keep your cool while driving and do safe and lane driving. Do not convert the road into a racing track.

48. Give signals to the traffic behind and do not obstruct overtaking.

49. Use helmet while driving two-wheeler for your own safety.

50. Keep the car doors locked while driving.

51. Keep the windows fully closed when the car is parked and open them only enough for ventilation while driving.

52. Do not offer lifts or open door windows to unknown persons.

53. Drive at a steady speed.

54. Instruct the children not to accept any hospitality from strangers in the form of sweets or gifts while travelling by train, bus or in any other public place and not to get into casual conversation with them.

55. Instruct the children not to meddle with strange objects, parcels, packages or toys found lying on the roadside, railway platforms and other public places or within the premises of the house.

56. Instruct the children to run into any public building like shops, restaurants, police station etc. and raise a hue and cry if someone tries to pick them up.

57. Advise children that if they are kidnapped they should try to keep calm and cooperate with the kidnappers till help arrives and not to make any bid to escape.

58. Keep the purse in front pocket. It reduces the chances of getting your pocket picked. Be alert in crowded places e.g. while traveling by crowded city buses and trains, on railway platforms etc.

59. Do not accept an offer that seems unreasonably attractive and much below the known price of the article.

60. Always check the expiry date of the medicine before purchasing and using it. Insist on the cash-memo.

61. Girls are advised to carry a small spray can of tear gas in their hand bag. This can be very effective for self-defense.