Single women are generally perceived as soft targets (which is not necessary true and having a man in a woman's life does not equal safety, sometimes on the contrary). In addition to my post on security of a sectional title unit, the following tips are specifically aimed at single women and single mothers:
- Do not list your phone number with your first name, initials and surname only, without a title (Ms, Mrs or Miss) or, if applicable, only a professional title (e.g. Dr, Adv, Prof, etc).
- Don't put your first name on your mailbox and/or at the entrance for buzzer entry, initials and surname only.
- Get a mail or post box at a secure setting, for example, a shopping complex, rather than making use of home delivery.
- If making use of voicemail or an answering machine, do not record "I am not home right now…" rather state "We are not able to take your call right now…", because it implies there is more than one person and it does not say that no one is home, just that no one can get to the phone. Even consider asking a male relative or friend to make the voice recording in his voice.
- When getting repairs done, maintenance or improvements ask a friend or friends to come over—there is perceived security in numbers.