Be Alert, Be Aware, Have a Plan: The Complete Guide to Protecting Yourself, Your Home, Your Family

I live and work close to an urban area where crime is becoming a problem. I also have my own personal stalker (I am not a victim!). I've been reading quite a few books on personal security and THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST! It is broken down into chapters focusing on becoming "streetwise," security in the home, at work, in your car, traveling, meeting and dating people and protecting our children. It also covers natural disasters and acts of terrorism. The author, Neal Rawls, writes from experience, having been a police officer and now a corporate security director. He provides examples of how people are conned, threatened and just plain unaware of what is going on around them within each chapter, THEN, he provides concise and practical advice on how to protect yourself and those you care for. It's a great kick in the pants to remind ourselves to be just as it says.Big print, so fast reading and some drawings to show examples. Better get this book!

This book is a real eye-opener. It quickly made me aware of how completely unaware I've been! And, according to author Neal Rawls, a former cop, being unaware is what makes people victims of crime. I also learned fascinating facts I didn't know before. One in 12 women are stalked at some time in their lives, and most violent crimes begin with stalking; more than 35,000 children are forcibly abducted each year -- the author presents these statistics not to scare people, but to show the reality of today's world and to impress upon people that they must learn to take care of themselves. The book teaches simple techniques to help you avoid crime and stay safe by being alert and aware, and having a plan to deal with whatever might happen.The book is an easy and entertaining read, and a great reference that you'll really use. If you liked "The Gift of Fear," you'll really like "Be Alert." It covers a lot of the same psychological aspects, but unlike DeBecker's book, "Be Alert" gives you straight forward tips to stay safe using what the author learned by being a street cop with a master's degree.

I heard the author on the G.Gordon Liddy radio show and was impressed, so I got the book. I found it to be an easy read, packed with useful tips and advice on many subjects, such as protecting children, dealing with stalkers (men and women), violence in the workplace and travel safety, as well as popular security topics like home and car security. The author is a former police officer and corporate security director, and he uses fascinating, sometimes humorous anecdotes throughout the book to illustrate important points. The book is well organized by topic, but before getting into specifics, Rawls discusses the psychology of criminals and how they choose their victims. Like Gavin De Becker's "The Gift of Fear," this book also covers the importance of developing and using your own instincts to stay safe. But unlike De Becker, Rawls offers succinct, easy-to-remember tips for staying safe, many that I'd not heard of before. A very good book that's timely and answers a lot of the personal security questions we all have on our minds these days.

This book is filled with excellent information that we all need to know. Everyone should read the chapter entitled "The Prudent Traveler" before going on their next trip! I learned a lot from this book and I'm definitely getting additional copies for my family.

I thought I was pretty smart when it comes to looking after myself, but after I picked up this book, I discovered all sorts of little tid-bits of information that I can use to make me and my family and my possessions a whole lot safer. This book is filled with common sense, useful, and easily implemented things that anyone can do to increase their awareness and their personal security. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I suggest that family with a student away at college, or a daughter living on her own, buy it and send it to them immediately; they will be amazed at all the simple things they can do to be sure they are safe.