This app was mentioned in 21 comments, with an average of 12.43 upvotes
From another comment on this thread (/u/SN17) >You should check out this app called "Safe Trek" (both iPhone and Android). > Basically when you're going through an unsafe area you have to hold down a button and if you let go and don't put in a code within 10 seconds it'll alert the police to your location.
Hey OP do you have a smart phone? I just came across this last night And if I didn't have a windows phone I would use it.
If you don't think you are actually in any danger but want a backup plan just incase, download this app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.safetrekapp.safetrek
You can hold your finger on the button and of you release it without inputting your pin it will call the police to your location.
You know more than anyone else here where your parents stand on their interpretation when it comes to leaving the religion. Use your best judgement here and if you truly fear for your life I'd get someone else involved.
Thanks for your story. I work with the homeless in Charlotte and it's not the most dangerous city for homeless compared to Orlando or Miami but you're right, it's impossible to win.
Just for some context for those who might be thinking of supporting panhandlers in Charlotte. There is a Homeless Services Network here which is amazing and works toward ending homelessness but unfortunately that only works for the people who want to be off the streets. The other "chronic homeless" individuals generally can't or won't want help. In Charlotte, my formerly homeless friend says you won't go a day hungry because there's always an organization providing food somewhere nearby. In addition a lot of the shelters like Urban Ministries have systems in place for items like bus passes and other things panhandlers may say they "need."
Back to your story. My piece of advice is to stay vigilant, don't engage at night or when you're alone and always have an "out." Go with your gut and use safety apps like Noonlight: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.safetrekapp.safetrek
There seems to be several such apps based on a quick search. Two that looked promising are SafeTrek (hold down a button and when you release it, a PIN must be entered within a time limit or police are alerted) and Watch Over Me (sends location to emergency contacts if you miss a regular check in or allows sending an alert by shaking the phone).
maybe?This one is okay
if you hit the similar section, there's other apps geared to personal security. I can't vouch for any of them as I've never tested them, but there are plenty to try
if you check the
Very true. However, I am not at all worried about walking to my car at night at my job nor at my complex. When arriving for a 3pm shift, there's tons of parking spots open that are within 100ft of my office entrance/back door. There is also a small parking area (mostly populated by lazy guests who don't want to park far from their building) that is RIGHT NEXT to my office entrance/back door, and whenever there's one open I go right there. Especially since that tiny parking area has a camera overlooking it.
Same with my complex. From the sidewalk to my car is like 30 feet. Creeps will need CIA training to jump from their car and intercept me before I get inside my own car.
I also downloaded an app called Noonlight (you may have heard it called SafeTrek) that keeps you safe. It's a huge button you hold down when feeling unsafe. Take your finger off it, you need to put in a pin number or else the cops will be sent to your location. I used it to walk to my complex Wednesday night when I got home.
follow the advice of everybody saying you should go to the police.
in addition, you could get a self defense object or two to help you feel safer. i have something like this, and it honestly makes me feel a lot better when i need to walk to my car in a dark parking lot.
you could also download an app like noonlight on your phone. if you're in a situation where you feel unsafe, you just hold your finger on the button; if you let go, it calls 911.
Not sure what kind of phone you have, but look up Noonlight. It's a free app that you can use as a safety button whenever you HAVE to walk alone. It works by making your phone a "button" and if you let go and don't enter your safe pin, it alerts authorities/friends you set it to.
They also have some partners with some specific safety devices but I can't remember what anymore.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.safetrekapp.safetrek
Noonlight. You activate it then put your finger in the button. If you remove your finger it contacts their dispatch who contact the police.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.safetrekapp.safetrek
If you are in another tense situation like the grocery store, there is an app for most smart phones that may help. It's called SafeTrek. It is kind of the opposite of most security apps, which allow you to place misc emergency calls with as few steps as possible. SafeTrek works like this: you press and hold the button when you think you are walking into a potentially dangerous situation. When you are safe, you put in the code to turn it off. If, for some reason, you let go of the button and do not begin putting in the code, it calls 911 (10 seconds). I think it was created with the women walking to their cars in the dark scenarios, but if you are interested, it's an amazing app.
MAKE A REPORT OF IT TO THE POLICE!!! Even if they say they can't help you. Go to the station and watch them take a physical report and tell them to put it in your file and SIGN THAT SHIT. The more police reports there are, the easier it is to make a connection later if more things start happening.
Get a security camera!!! Even just outside your front door. I can link you my cheap ass $20 one on amazon. It'll do.
Start keeping a journal of the basic stuff you do each day. Even if it's just a notes app on your phone. You can start to draw a connection between weird shit happening and what you were doing.
Tell people where you're going. Mom, dad, wife, husband, best friend. Have your location sent to them if you can but at least tell them where you're going and text them when you're back home. Make sure somebody always knows where you are. This will also make it easier for police to find you/ be on your trail if you're a missing person. Text somebody when you wake up, when you change location, and before you go to bed.
If you feel like you might become a missing person you need to get the info on how to report in your county. It's always different. Some have to wait 24-78 hours, some can only report if they're the next of kin, some can only report if they've seen you recently, or live in the same county as you, etc. Let somebody know how and when to report you. The first 48 hours are crucial and if they don't do it right, your case could go cold.
Get noonlight!!! I linked you to the Google play store but you can get it on iphone, too. It's completely free and will help you feel safer as it pings your phone better/more accurately than a 911 call can and they will call 911 for you.
There's probably more and a lot of this is very extreme but do as much as you can to keep physical records of everything. That is the most important. Even for a court case if you find out some idiot was playing a prank.
if you get a case number for you report, give that case number to the person who will report you missing if it comes to that. The biggest answer would be "he's an adult. He can come and go as he pleases" which will slow down the investigation. If they have a case number and you reporting crazy shit that's happening, they're much more likely to take action quicker.
I cannot stress this enough: keep a fucking paper trail
You hold it down when you are walking alone or feel unsafe, then if you let go, it calls the police.
heres the link on android, so you don't have to give your phone
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.safetrekapp.safetrek
To me, the best self defense is being able to have not only physical situational awareness, but social situational awareness and the dynamics between people. For better or worse, the environment I grew up in gave me a bs and stranger danger radar that's probably better than most, but also partly because people don't exercise theirs - as you said, advantage and privilege. And while I'm no good in a fight, if I can keep it or any other type of dangerous or undesirable situation from even happening at all, then that's even better. Thinking about it more, I also think that I tend to have better tactical awareness if there was some kind of altercation simply because I always assume the disadvantage, and a few other things, like being able to ID and filter out certain odd noises in the middle of the night, and determine what's worth investigating and what isn't, and being cognizant of any potential end result of my actions, legal and otherwise, especially if firearms happen to be involved, whereas it comes to most as an unpleasant surprise. Often dealing with the legalities of simply defending yourself is just as if not more taxing than the situation itself. At least where I live, simply firing a gun within city limits has legal repercussions, even if that's literally all that happened. Whereas if most people want to feel safe, they buy a gun and assume that they're always going to be able to get to it when they need it, or the opposite extreme some people get in the habit of reaching for it whenever anything goes bump in the night. I've nearly been shot at least once because someone grabbed a gun while mostly still asleep and thought that I was an intruder for at least a few seconds.
Safety and ability to act are important, but knowing when and in what way to act is even more important. Just because you have a gun in order to protect you and your loved ones doesn't mean that it should be your first line of defense. Physically defending yourself should be your absolute resort. There are all kinds of ways and small things you can do in order help avoid confrontation and conflict. There are apps such as Noonlight that will allow you to call for help at the push of a button, and send someone if you don't respond. There's a feature built into the Note 9 for sure that will allow you to send an SOS message to whoever you want. I suppose that just the same as people take their physical abilities and privilege for granted, I take my ability to run through scenarios and quickly evaluate my options for granted as well.
Here it is on Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.safetrekapp.safetrek
For Amy, who I know reads here (and for everyone else who may need additional resources to stay safe), these are links for personal safety apps to install on your phone. You never know when you may need them and there’s no harm in having them installed just in case.
Stay safe, everyone. 💗
You might want to check out Noonlight.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.safetrekapp.safetrek