She arrived home from work to find him waiting for her. She just wanted to get home and go to sleep because it was late and dark. As she made her way to her car, she gave the area a quick glance but didn’t spot anything unusual. She then slid into the driver’s seat, let go of the day’s problems, and drove home. He backed out of his parking space and slyly followed a distance away. He had frequently followed her home and knew exactly where she lived. He also knew that she always went straight home, didn’t have any dogs, parked, went to the mailbox without looking around, and went to her front door while idly perusing her bills and junk mail. Since he was aware of her routine, he would be there to meet her tomorrow night.

We women tend to be too casual about our surroundings and our comings and goings without really paying attention. Why would today be any different from any other day when we have never been threatened or attacked? Although we can’t always see the dangers that are there, we can be ready if they do.

First of all, vary your driving routines, walking or jogging schedules and routes, trips to the mailbox, the store, and the dog park. Change it up by taking different routes, leaving at various times, and driving a different path home from work. You can also make stops for groceries or errands. Don’t always run your errands after you get home. You never know who might be keeping an eye on you from afar, taking notes, and waiting for the ideal opportunity to strike.

Keep your head up, your eyes and ears open, and be on the lookout for any unusual sounds or movements as you make your way to and from the front, back, or garage. Once you’re safe inside, the mail can wait. The issues on your mind and the weekend plans can wait until you are safe inside. As soon as you enter, especially if it’s late at night, lock the door. Put your foot against the door if your arms are heavy with groceries to keep it closed until you can set the items down and lock the door. If you’re not on the lookout, being cautious, and being ready, someone could be right behind you, ready to push his way in.

Consider the fact that it only takes a moment to drastically alter your life if you think this is a bit extreme and impractical. Are you willing to take that one chance? That one moment when you later think “what if If only I had exercised more caution.”

It’s important to establish safe behaviors such as locking the door when you’re home alone, keeping the curtains drawn at night, checking that the windows are locked before going to bed, and being aware of your surroundings.

Purchase an electronic barking dog to guard your house if you don’t already have one. You can set it to guard your house at night or while you are away. These devices can “see” through bricks, wood, glass, even cement to alert any intruder that you have a very large vicious dog just waiting to rip him to pieces should he step foot in your home. Even a stalker who knows you don’t have a dog would be startled by the sudden noise coming from inside the house and would think twice. No thief desires to have his presence discovered.

Installing a home security system is another safety measure you should take if you live alone. There are many different kinds on the market, ranging from very expensive systems that are monitored by a company that will be notified if the alarm goes off to less expensive systems you can easily install yourself. All of them work incredibly well, sounding a loud alarm whenever a motion detector detects movement or when someone tries to break a window or door.

Another self-defense option and safety measure to think about is keeping pepper spray on hand, whether in your car, purse, pocket, or somewhere convenient inside the home. Anyone who has forced their way into your home will regret it when they get pepper sprayed in the face by the pepper spray you just so happened to have tucked away in your back pocket. You’ll have time to run away and call the police between his temporary blindness and his frantic attempts to breathe.

Living alone has advantages and disadvantages, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that your safety is your responsibility alone. There are sufficient measures you can take to ensure your safety that you shouldn’t ever need an excuse for not living alone.