From a talk I heard this morning from a fairly experienced policewoman (PS. Victoria, Australia):

* Men: never put your wallet in your back trouser-pocket

* Re identity-theft: the latest is phoning you saying there’s a virus in your computer; did you know people can swipe/insert credit cards in some supermarkets etc. and withdraw cash without purchasing anything? Don’t put an ICE number on your phone unless it’s password-protected. You can put it in your wallet, which helps police/ambulance etc

* Buy a shredder to chop up your personal details: don’t put them into the garbage; put a lock on your letter-box.

* In Victoria (Australia?) it’s illegal to ask for money from strangers, but not to give money. If you’re harassed, simply rebuke the person in a loud voice and they’ll disappear quickly

* Don’t ever buy anything from anyone at your front door

* If you’re home alone (especially) and someone you’re not expecting knocks on the front door or calls you on the phone, always yell so they can hear you ‘Jack, I’ll get it’…

* Always put valuables in your trunk/back of wagon as you leave home, never in shopping malls

* There’s a green button in all (metropolitain?) trains and many buses in case of trouble which you can press to alert the driver, who can call 000 before the next station

* If you leave something in a taxi you’ve booked by phone, they have a record of the driver, time & destination etc. Not so with a taxi hailed on the street

* Bank withdrawals? Always speak so that only the teller will hear you, otherwise write her/him a note

* Neighbours: watch out for each other…

* If you’re elderly, and walking at night, wear white/light-colored clothing

* Get your name/phone number off all selling/marketing lists: do it again if your previous request was 5+ years ago

* If you have a party with young people and you serve under-18s alcohol (without their parents’ (written?) permission) it’s a $700 fine…

Any more…?