Feel safe everywhere
It’s easy to feel unsettled after watching or listening to the news, but thankfully, there have never been more clever tools available to help keep us secure. Here, 4 high-tech devices that bring peace of mind
To fend off an attacker
“Pepper sprays are popular because of their reliability and ease of use,” says Matt Pinsker, a professor of criminal justice and homeland security at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. And new versions disguised as phone cases are especially effective since criminals often demand cell phones, giving women a chance to deploy the spray. One that’s backed by FBI experts and has a 96 percent stop rate: TigerLight Defense Alert Device ($130, TigerLight.net), which combines pepper spray and a panic strobe light to distract attackers. It made all the difference for Kortney Blatter, who was ambushed while walking with a friend: “I never thought I’d need it, but I was wrong. I sprayed the guy in the face, causing him to let go of my friend so we could run away. Knowing I could protect myself was one of the most empowering experiences of my life.”
To deter a home invader
Prior to a robbery or home invasion, criminals often scope out the house as a “test run.” That’s where a device like the Ring Video Doorbell ($100 and up, Ring.com) can help, says Pinsker. Using a video camera feed sent directly to a smart phone, it alerts you if anyone is lurking. That alert was priceless for Kelly Bright, who lives alone. When the device captured movement at her door one night, it sent a notification to her cell phone with live images of a prowler on her porch shining a flashlight in her windows. Bright notified police, who quickly apprehended the stranger. “Without this technology, I never would have known what was going on while I was sleeping,” says Kelly. “I love the real-time communication. Plus, the video storage feature is only $3 a month— much more affordable than alarm systems that don’t have video capabilities.” Another benefit: The device allows you to speak to the person at your door via an intercom—even if you aren’t home. If the stranger thinks the house is occupied, that may be enough to get him to leave.
To add protection when traveling
The number of women who travel for work has skyrocketed in recent years, so more women are staying alone in hotels. A safety tool savvy travelers swear by: the Step Off Portable Entry Alarm ($20, DamselProGal.com). The high-tech door stopper, which was created by a domestic-abuse survivor, sounds a 120-decibel alarm if the door is opened, waking you and scaring away intruders. Frequent traveler Louise Masin Sattler always makes sure to pack it, ever since a trip when she heard a commotion in her hotel and later saw police arresting a suspect outside her window. Says Louise, “This delivers an extra measure of protection.”
To stay safe in social settings
Tampering with cocktails is a surprisingly common crime: Researchers at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom found that 76 percent of people know someone who had been a victim. Fortunately, new strategies that detect drugs slipped into drinks are helping women feel secure on a girls’ night out. One option is the Drink Detective ($8 for three tests, NotInMyDrink.com), a kit that comes with a swab that you dip in a drink, then place on a coded card that changes color in seconds if it detects ketamine or Rohypnol, drugs often used in sexual assaults.