Prevent theft Getting robbed is one of the most violating things that can happen to a person.  Granted, getting robbed isn’t as violating as being raped or being abused, but it’s in the same ballpark.  This is especially true if you’re home or car are broken into, since it means that some stranger has been in a private part of your life and in a private part of your space.  Not only does theft mean having to deal with the emotional aspects of the robbery, you also have to get your stuff back.  Sometimes it’s not a terrible process; depending on your insurance agency and your insurance agent things can go pretty smoothly, but other times getting anything paid for can be nearly impossible. So how do you prevent theft?  The best way to prevent theft is to close off any obvious ways for thieves to get at your personal belongings.  For example, always lock your front door.  It may sound elementary or obvious, but many thieves walk through open doors or windows into houses full of valuables.  This is another important way to prevent theft in your car, since many people won’t lock their doors, especially if they’re just popping into a store to pick up something in a hurry.  Though it may not take much time to grab a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread from the grocery store, it takes even less time to steal the CD case from your backseat.  By the same token, the easiest way to prevent your bike from getting stolen is to keep it locked up; most bike thieves steal unlocked bikes. Though it’s usually easy to prevent theft through a little bit of common sense, it’s sometimes necessary to take stronger measures.  Car and home alarms are popular options, especially if you’re living in an area with a high crime rate.  If you do alarm your house or your car, be sure to advertise the fact that your house or car are armed.  Often merely the advertisement of an alarm is enough to prevent theft in most cases.  It’s also important to remember to take action to prevent theft of your personal belongings.  Your wallet contains more than enough information to not only rob you but to steal your entire identity.  Keep your wallet or purse close at hand, and avoid leaving it on a table in the library as you look for books or on the lunch counter when you go to the bathroom.  Again, though it doesn’t take long to get back to your belongings, it takes even less time to steal them.