I have been recently reading our school’s crime log. Most of the crimes are silly ones, like people leaving their bike outside of the library for 45 minutes, and then coming back to find it gone; however, a lot of the recent crimes have involved people getting things stolen out of their hands while they walked.

You have to be smart when you are walking outside, and you have to make sure that you take a few extra precautions to reduce any changes of becoming a victim.

The number one tip is to be alert. You need to be aware of everything in your environment. Make sure that you keep the volume on your headphones low enough, so that you can hear what’s going on. You want to see what is going on as well, so always walk facing traffic.

People should know where you are walking, or they should at least know when you left, and when you are planning on coming back. An even better solution would be to have a walking group. Walking with a friend will help pass the time, and you will be less likely to get bored.

Do not present yourself as a moving target. Don’t carry any valuables on you, or chat on your cellphone while you walk. Another tip would be to hide your iPod. Also, try to limit the amount of jewelry that you wear while you walk.

You should always carry identification on you as well, even if it’s just a rubber band that you have written your name on and attached to your sneakers. If it ever gets to the point where you do not feel safe, don’t be afraid to make noises with a noisemaker, whistle, or a personal alarm.