Seattle police say people who walk in the city need to pay attention to their surroundings and never resist if someone demands valuables.
Seattle police offer the following safety tips for those who walk in the city:
• Pay close attention to your surroundings and stick to well-lit areas.
• Walk with a purpose; project an assertive, businesslike image.
• Plan your route to avoid uninhabited parks, parking lots, garages and alleys.
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• Carry minimal items; overloading yourself can make you appear vulnerable.
• Before you leave home decide what you actually need to take with you rather than automatically taking your entire handbag or wallet.
• If you must carry valuables like important papers, jewelry and cash, chose to wear clothes with inside pockets or use a small bag with a long thin strap to be worn under your coat or clothes.
• Don’t display large sums of cash and don’t carry any more cash than is necessary.
• Carry your purse very close to you, preferably with the strap over your shoulder and the purse to the front of your body. Don’t dangle it from your arm.
• Avoid walking alone at night. As much as possible, walk or travel with a friend, even during the daytime.
• If a robber grabs your bag, resist the impulse to play tug of war. If you hang on, chances are you will be knocked down, hit, or kicked and the robber will get your bag anyway.
• If someone demands your property and displays or implies in any way that they have a weapon, hand the bag or wallet over to them.
For a full list of tips, go to www.seattle.gov/police/prevention/personal/default.htm