Self Defense Products Blog

OK. Every once in a while we all need a good laugh. This story is a true story and is totally laughable and sad at the same time. While you read the story think of how differently things could have worked out if there had been an alarm system like the Voice Alert System 6 to warn the car owners.

There was a man who stole a Porsche Carrera and got caught. He was charged with grand theft auto, and was told that he was to appear in court. No problem, except for one thing. He had no transportation. That’s why he stole such a high profile car to begin with. Maybe he thought he would totally blend in driving in a car worth over $100,000. Wrong. That’s why he was going to court. Police didn’t think he blended well.

What was the next logical move for the 37 year old San Francisco hair stylist? Yes, you know but just don’t want to think it out loud. He stole another car. He had to get to court!

So, he stole a Lexus SUV - keys and all. Police noticed the SUV when people started to gather around it because there were several Yorkshire Terriers wandering around inside the car.

The result was that he was convicted in the Porsche crime and then charged with receiving a stolen vehicle, receiving stolen property and animal cruelty for leaving the puppies in the vehicle. It doesn’t get much more ridiculous than this.

The serious side to this is that there could have been a way for the real owners of both cars to avoid having them stolen. The Voice Alert System 6 is an annunciator system featuring wireless PIR sensors transmitters and a remote receiver/speaker base unit. Users record their own alert messages and are then notified with their own voice message when activity in a monitored area is detected. Key applications include:

The Voice Alert System 6 can be used to monitor your home or office. It can monitor your driveway - in case a child is around, or in case someone is trying to steal your car. Since it is wireless and covers an area of up to 1000 feet - even through walls and up staircases - it will alert you in your own voice with a message you record that something is happening in a particular area. In the case above, the monitor could have said that there was movement in the garage or the driveway, which would have alerted the owner of the cars to investigate and prevent the cars from being stolen.

Protect yourself in advance. The Voice Alert System 6 is effective and affordable. It can keep your cars, your children and your home safe.

I read a story on MSN today about some guy in Florida who ordered some food at the local McDonalds drive-up window and then tried to pay the casher with some of his weed! Can you imagine that? Talk about a stoner…Well, the cashier called the cops and provided them with a description of his vehicle and the cops picked him up. And of course, he was still carrying his stash with him. He was charged and released on $500 bail.

Man, someone really has to be pretty desperate to try a stunt like that. Well…I guess either desperate or really stoned. Or maybe a little bit of both.

It sure feels like the economy is getting bad and the stock market certainly agrees with this. Did you know the stock market usually is a leading indicator and is actually a reaction to economic activity up to 6 months in the future? It’s true. Based on the crappy stock market we’ve all seen in September and October, it looks like the economy is going to get a whole lot worse.

When the economy declines, crime increases. People get desperate and desperate times calls for desperate measures. Just keep this in mind the next time you find yourself in a vulnerable situation like walking the dog late at night or going to your car in a deserted parking garage.

I’m not bringing these things up to scare you, but rather to prepare you. If you are prepared, you will have won half the battle. Consider carrying a pepper spray or stun gun with you…just in case you find yourself in a scary situation.

Stay safe to stay alive,

Steve Lane

Self Defense & Surveillance Shop

http://www.LaneSelfDefense.com

http://www.LaneSurveillance.com

There has been a rash of reports regarding law enforcement abusing their ability to taser citizens. We have read everything from seizures to death and it has been difficult to decide to whether the end justified the means in some cases or if common sense was just completely absent.

This next story is so ridiculous it merits repeating. The moral of the story is be careful what you wish or in this case ask for. Apparently the perpetrator turned victim was not injured but he should probably get an honorable mention somewhere, probably the Darwin Awards but he doesn’t qualify since he lived. At the same time it is probably best that he not reproduced.

By The Record
July 14, 2008 6:00 AM
Man tells police to use stun gun
When deputies responded to a disturbance call Saturday afternoon in Acampo and told a 48-year-old man they would hit him with a Taser if he did not sit down, he told them to “do it,” according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.

Jesse Clinton Bonderer was then hit with the device, but deputies at the disturbance in the 7400 block of East Woodbridge Road took him to the ground after he removed the Taser prongs from his abdomen, according to a report.

He was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on suspicion of committing assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats, obstructing a peace officer, battery and public intoxication.

Before deputies arrived, Bonderer had pulled out a buck knife and threatened to stab a man at the location with the knife, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He also allegedly struck the man and kicked him in the head when the man fell to the ground, according to police.

Better luck next time, I think!

It is important for everyone to learn self-defense. You never know when you could become a target. It really doesn’t matter who you are or how big you are. If predators want something from you, they will stop at nothing to get it, unless you surprise them and fight back. Most criminals don’t want any conflict. If you make it hard on them, they may decide it isn’t worth it and leave you alone.

So, what self-defense tips can you put to good use? These suggestions will give you an opportunity to escape.

* Use your thumbs: If you have access to the hands of an attacker, use your thumbs to press down as hard as you can on the fingernails just above the nail bed. Surprisingly, this really hurts. Your attacker will be shocked and in pain and will quickly pull away. This should give you an escape opportunity.

* Hit hard at the bridge of the nose: If you get the opportunity, drive the heel of your palm right into the bridge of your attacker’s nose. A hard enough hit can be fatal. Either way, the blinding pain will cause your assailant to take a step back to recover from the hit. Take advantage of the distraction and run. Yell “fire!” as you run to attract attention. People generally respond and pay more attention when someone yells “fire” instead of “help.”

* Push into a bite: A vicious attacker may bite you. Avoid your instinct to pull away. Instead, push the limb being bitten into the face of your attacker. Cover as much of your attacker’s nose and mouth as possible. The result will be smothering unless the bite is released.

* Knee or kick the groin: It doesn’t matter how strong or large your attacker is. If you get a chance, deliver a strong shot to the groin. Your assailant will instantly double over in agony and allow you a good opportunity to run away. Don’t assume this will only work for a male attacker either. Anyone who is hit hard in that area will be in excruciating pain long enough for you to start running.

Now you have some good techniques that will allow you time to get away. What else can you do to help your situation? Here are some suggestions that most people don’t think of when they are panicked:

* Yell fire: For most people, when trapped in a helpless situation, the instinct is to yell for help. The best way to attract attention and gain help is actually to yell “Fire!” It is a proven fact that the majority of people, especially in densely populated cities, ignore calls for help. People just don’t want to get involved. Yelling “fire” will attract more attention and get you the help you need. If nothing else, someone will call the fire department and the sirens will scare your attacker away. If you are told not to yell or scream, do it anyway. Most attackers will run rather than chance attention drawn to them. They don’t want witnesses.

* Anything can be a weapon: Be creative in your self defense. Smokers can burn the assailant with a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe. Keep your keys handy. A key between your index and middle fingers with the jagged side facing down is a great weapon for stabbing, gouging or scraping. Boots and heels can do a lot of bodily damage with a bit of force behind them. Drinks can temporarily blind someone. Heavy objects like, purses, bags of groceries, briefcases or laptops can knock an attacker off balance briefly.
* Become a moving target: If you do get away, run. If possible, weave as you are running. It is hard for an attacker to hit a moving target, especially when it isn’t going in a straight line.

We would all like to think that it will never happen to us. Odds are, if not you then someone you love will become the victim of an attacker. Everyone needs to learn basic self-defense and encourage others to do so as well.

Stay Safe,

Steve Lane

http://www.laneselfdefense.com

Tags: C2 Taser, crime avoidance, Crime Prevention, Home security, How to protect yourself from attack, Pepper spray, Personal Safety, Self Defense, Self Defense Products, self defense spray, Self Defense Tips, Stun Gun

The law tells us that the use of force is justified when it is reasonably believed that it is necessary for self defense against another’s unlawful force. But, you cannot use any more force than is reasonably necessary under the circumstances.

What does this mean? Well, if someone punches you in the face, you are not justified to pull out a gun and shoot him. So, how do you stay safe and remain reasonably protected from being attacked?

Learn Personal Safety Methods:

* Learn to believe in yourself and nurture that belief. You will better trust your strength, wisdom and instincts. You will be more likely to do whatever you need to for self-protection. If you hear that little voice inside called intuition telling you something is wrong, chances are that you are right.
* Face facts. The world can be a dangerous place, and that danger can appear right in your own home or neighborhood. No one is immune to violence and attack.
* Be aware. Know what is happening in the world around you. The more informed and alert you are, the better your chances of protecting yourself from attack.
* Appear strong. Strength is exuded from confident individuals. If you look like you are sure of yourself and believe in yourself, you are much less likely to be targeted for an attack. Criminals, like wild animals, prey on the weaker of the species.

Be Smart:

Do you really think that fighting back is going to help you? When dealing with people who are edgy, wound up and possibly on drugs, mounting an attack will only anger and frustrate them, making them even more violent and dangerous. Defend yourself if necessary, but never instigate a physical altercation.

Don’t assume that you will be attacked only by strangers. The majority of attacks involve people who know each other in some way. Be calm and don’t lose your temper or your self control. Humor and speak calmly to your attacker, but don’t condescend. Do anything you can to reduce the tension of the situation: it may save your life.

Reduce your Risks:

* Know your surroundings and remain in well-lit and populated areas. Pay attention to potential hiding places for attackers.
* Don’t take short cuts through isolated areas.
* Avoid going out alone at night.
* Be sure people you know are aware of your typical schedule. If you have plans that are out of the ordinary, like a date, be sure someone knows when you are leaving and when you plan to return.
* Exude self-confidence in all of your actions. If someone is watching you, this will make them think you could be a problem target that they should avoid.

Learn Self Defense:

You can attend a law enforcement or community class, research the Internet or choose any other method to learn some defensive skills. Then practice those skills with someone. The more educated and aware you are of how to avoid and get away from criminals, the better off you will be.

Protection from an attack can be learned and applied by anyone. It isn’t the size or gender of the attacker that matters most. It is the self-confidence and self awareness of the would-be victim that determines the outcome of an attack. If you don’t set yourself up to be a victim, you have a much better chance of not becoming one.

www.laneselfdefense.com/lipstickpepperspray.htm

Stay Safe,

Steve Lane

http://www.laneselfdefense.com

http://www.lanesurveillance.com

Tags: Crime Prevention, How to protect yourself from attack, Lipstick pepper spray, Personal Safety, Self Defense, Self Defense Products, Self Defense Tips

Here are some tips on avoiding violent crimes. Women especially should be careful of sexual assault against them and safety products such as pepper spray, mace, stun guns and self defense training can help them in the event that they are faced with any kind if impending danger.

Make sure you use initials instead of first names on your mail box and phone listing. Avoid being alone in an apartment laundry room or parking garage. Never admit on the phone or at the door that you are alone. It is risky to accept a ride home from someone that you just met. If you decide to physically resist assault, remember that your goal is to incapacitate the attacker long enough to run to safety and get help. Or you can use your safety weapons to protect yourself.

Avoid carrying valuable items or large amounts of money. Always think ahead. For example, when traveling at night, have your keys ready to enter the house or to start the car. If you are confronted by a robber, the best advice is to cooperate at first and find an opportunity to use your peppery spray, stun gun, or mace.

When using an automatic bank teller, always be watchful of any suspicious people around you. The changes of being robbed at night are much greater, especially if you are alone. If you find someone waiting and watching outside in the area of an ATM machine, do not use it. Leave the area and report the incident to the police immediately. You could save someone else from being a victim of crime.

Stay in a well-lit area that is busy. Avoid walking alone and avoid known troubled spots. When you carry a purse, hold it close to your body rather than by the handles. Do not wrap purse straps around your wrist, because you can get hurt in a struggle.
Carry only what you need in a purse or wallet and not everything that you have. Avoid using shortcuts through dark alleys, fields or vacant lots. If you think you are being followed by a stalker, cross the street and change directions a few times. Go quickly to a well lit area where there are a lot of people. You do not want an attacker to know where you live.

You don’t want to give the robbers any clues to find you. Travel in a group of friends. It is more than likely that an attacker will rethink his or her decision to attack when you are in a group. Make sure you all have the right safety products to use if you are being attacked. Self defense techniques will be helpful to someone or all in the group.

You have to really be aware of the environment around you. Don’t ever walk without scanning your surroundings. To avoid walking in to a trap, make sure you plan your outings. Know the area before you attempt the trip. Whenever you are going out at night, try not to travel alone. Have someone in your group pick you up instead of driving by yourself, if that is possible. For more information, go to http://www.laneselfdefense.com/pepperspray.htm

There are many homeowners who are taking charge of their own safety and applying security measures to their homes. You might walk by a home and see a security camera over the garage door, one at the back of the home and one on either side of the home. This shows how important the homeowner feels about their safety and security.

It makes the homeowner have peace of mind to knowing that there is some protection against intruders. Even though intruders are becoming more brazen today, the home security camera offers a sense of safety and a means to help the police to catch any intruder that may invade the property of a homeowner.

It is possible that the robber or burglar will see the home security camera and be frightened and run away. So, even the fact that it is there, gives some semblance of security. There are other means of home security such as window and door alarms. These can be additional precautionary methods of home security.

If a homeowner has to take a vacation, then a home security camera, window alarm and door alarm are going to the best product for them to have to give added peace of mind. Any type of break in or vandalism will be videotaped while they are away.
Business owners make sure that their businesses are protected with a wireless security camera and video surveillance system. Apartment complexes, doctor’s offices, pharmacies, government buildings and nursing homes are all equipped with proper surveillance camera systems for safety and protection. Everyone is jumping on board to securing their property or business.

The increase of crime and robberies are increasing. Thieves are becoming quite blatant in their desperation for money and will go to all lengths to commit a robbery. They no longer care about going to jail. So the homeowner and the business person have to be one step ahead of these thieves by getting state of the art security systems that will help to catch these intruders.
The night vision surveillance camera takes automatic pictures when there is any kind of movement in front of it. This picture is then stored and available for viewing later. You retrieve the picture by plugging the camera into a monitor such as a television or VCR.

After you have finished looking at the pictures, you can opt to erase or copy them to a VCR tape or you can save the pictures on your computer hard drive. The night vision security camera is built with 8mm lens and is made to work in the dark and at day time. It comes with a power adapter, a video cable and 2 remote controls.

If a security camera is in a parking lot and their car is stolen in most cases it can be retrieved, not to mention they have that peace of mind of walking to their cars under surveillance and know that there is a lower risk of being attacked or abducted by someone intending to harm them or hurt them in order to gain access to their belongings or their vehicle. There’s just too much crime to not have security cameras in most places.

To get more information about how you can protect yourself against possible crime, go to http://www.laneselfdefense.com/tripleaction.htm.

Have you ever watched a movie and it becomes scary when you see a woman approaching her car in the parking lot and a man walking up quietly behind her. She looks behind because she feels like someone is following her. She begins to walk faster and so does her impending attacker. Now she reaches the car and as soon as she puts her hands on the handle of the car door, he comes up behind her suddenly and puts her in a throat hold. What would you do if that were you in real life? That may be a movie, but it does happen in real life situations.

Women are the ones mostly attacked in parking lot incidents and yet most women don’t learn self defense techniques or equip themselves with self defense products. Mace and Pepper Spray can stop your attacker in his tracks. It slows him down and gives you time to escape in a hurry. In the case above where the woman feels like someone was following her, she would have enough time to take out her mace or pepper spray from her purse and get ready for the attack. Even better, is the fact that manufacturers are making these products to look like every day items that women use. In some cases, your pepper spray can look like your regular lipstick and it can fool your attacker.

Your Mace can look like a soda can or your cell phone. You can pretend to be using a cell phone that looks like Mace and trick the attacker into thinking that you are not aware that he is following you. Be equipped with the right self defense product for your protection. You never know when the attacker will strike and you should not leave yourself vulnerable to these attacks.
Crime is getting worse every day. If you listen to the news each day, you will hear the incidents that sometimes become quite deadly. Women should also learn self defense techniques to use along with self defense products because you never know which one will come in handy when the situation arises.

It will take time for you to train in karate or kick boxing, so in the meantime, do carry your Mace and Pepper Spray with you every time you go out. Treat it as you would treat your car keys. You can’t leave home without them. Just as you would train for karate, you should also train yourself on how to use your Mace and Pepper Spray so that you are prepared in the event of an attack.
You want to make sure that you have good aim and reflexes to use your Mace and Pepper Spray.

Don’t let your attacker know that you have that secret weapon. Remain calm in the situation as best as you can. Hold your weapon in your hand until it is the right time to use it. Don’t let your attacker get too close. If you are attacked from behind, you can still use your Mace and Pepper Spray. In fact, make sure you have it in your hand with your car keys when you are walking to your car. This way, you will be both mentally and physically prepared to use it.

To get more information about how you can protect yourself against possible crime, go to

Self defense products are the weapon against attacks and the ultimate security tool because it can save your life. It is for that reason that many people are becoming very aware of the need for their safety and protection using self defense products.
These include stun guns, pepper sprays, tasers, personal alarms, and more, which have all become extremely popular since the increase of crime.

These self defense products are utilized by security companies worldwide, law enforcement agencies and the military. Since late 2007, it is reported that more than 11,000 law enforcement agencies use Tasers. Stun guns are considered more effective and is used by most police departments.

Legal in all fifty states across America is Pepper spray. Be sure to check your city and state for any current restrictions. The manufacturer of self defense products should provide safety use and quality in the product. After quality and safety have been established, then the next requirement is for the Hazleton Laboratories to test and verify that the product is of high quality and safe to use. There are no shortcuts on quality or safety here.

The police are limited to how many places they can be at one time and at all times, so people are equipping themselves with their own method of self defense to protect themselves and their families. The word is spreading too amongst friends that self defense products should be included in their daily carrying cases, purses, or cars.

Self defense products can be found online where there is a wide variety of selections at the best prices and with low shipping costs. You will also find self defense product websites online that provide additional information on each product to give you an informed decision before you buy. You will see enlarged pictures of each product and a list of the different features of each product.

If you are looking for tasers, pepper sprays, stun guns and maybe an electronic home security system, go online and search for “self defense products,” and you will find what you are looking for or for your convenience, you can go directly to www.laneselfdefense.com.

It is apparent that crime is here to stay whether at a large or small scale so that is the first and foremost reason for adequate protection. Secondly, we already established that the police cannot be everywhere when you need them and so you have to provide protection on your own.

Thirdly, the popularity of self defense products cannot be overlooked and it shows how many people are seeing the value of owning self defense products for their safety and protection. Self defense products are not popular because of any trends, but due to the increase of crime and the fact that people feel that their lives are threatened.

These products are become quite respected because they have saved so many lives and could save your life. By just having it in your possession is enough to give you that sense of peace and safety. To get more information about how you can protect yourself against possible crime, go to http://www.laneselfdefense.com/tripleaction.htm.

The Associated Press reported today that anti-gang legislation and police crackdowns are failing so badly that they are literally strengthening the criminal organizations and making U.S. cities more dangerous, according to a report being release today.

Mass scale arrests, tougher prison sentences often served with other fellow gang members and some other strategies (that were not outlined in the article) that focus on law enforcement rather than intervention actually strengthen gang ties and further marginalize angry young men, according to the Justice Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank that advocates alternatives to incarceration.

“We’re talking about 12-, 13-, 14-, 15-year-olds whose involvement in gangs is likely to be ephemeral unless they are pulled off the street and put in prison, where they will come out with much stronger gang allegiances,” said Judith Greene, co-author of “Gang Wars: The Failure of Enforcement Tactics and the Need for Effective Public Safety Strategies.”

The report is based on a variety of interviews and analysis of several hundred pages of previously published statistics and reports.

Academics and gang-intervention workers have voiced similar feedback (to this latest report’s findings) that found gangs should be viewed as a symptom of other problems in poor communities, such as violence, teen pregnancy, drug abuse and unemployment.

The report goes on to say that Los Angeles and Chicago, in particular, are losing their war on gangs because they focus on law enforcement and are short on intervention.

It also cites another report produced this year by civil rights attorney Connie Rice, who was hired by Los Angeles to evaluate its failing anti-gang programs. Her report called for an initiative to provide jobs and recreational programs in impoverished neighborhoods.

Wes McBride, executive director of the California Gang Investigators Association, quickly dismissed the findings of the report, which he claimed was written by “thug-huggers.” The investigators association is a professional organization for police officers.

“Are they saying we can’t put a thief in jail, we can’t put a murderer in jail, that we should spank them, put a diaper on them, pat them on the bottom, hug them and let them go?” McBride said. “It’s obviously a think tank report, and they didn’t leave their ivory tower and spend any time on the streets.”

What are my thoughts, you might wonder? Well, I happen to agree with the ivory tower in this case. No, I don’t think that we can’t put a murderer or thief in jail. We should still be able to do that. We certainly have to enforce the law and probably enforce it more harshly in cases where the law has been flat out disregarded. However, enforcing the law alone is similar to only lowering the body temperature of a patient admitted to an ER for heat stroke. Without proper education and counseling, more likely than not you will see this patient again whenever it’s hot outside.

Yes, we certainly need to spend money on law enforcement, but we also need to spend more money on initiatives to provide jobs and recreational programs in poor neighborhoods as Connie Rice suggested. That’s really the only way we can change the momentum of the rise in gang related crime, in my opinion.

By the way, if you’re interested in learning more about methods to fight crime, you should check out this conference that is being held in Chicago in August by the National Gang Crime Research Center. You can find out more about this conference here: http://www.ngcrc.com/2002/2002.html

Stay safe until we meet again, and let me know what you think about this subject.

Steve Lane
Self Defense & Surveillance Shop
http://www.laneselfdefense.com
http://www.lanesurveillance.com
Email: info@laneselfdefense.com
Phone: (877) 624-5115

The Metro Transit Authority (otherwise know as the MTA) in the metropolitan area of Minneapolis/St. Paul, just announced last week that they would spend $2.4 million to increase security on public transit, particularly buses. This announcement came in response to a fatal shooting in downtown St. Paul in April 2007 and a beating death in Minneapolis in March of this year.

Some of the details of this increased security include:

*putting transit police officers on regular bus routes as part of their “beat”. Transit police officers will ride buses 1,500 hours a month, up from 270 hours a month last year.
*There will be more coordination with municipal police to patrol bus stops.
*Nearly 250 buses will get upgraded digital cameras that produce clearer video and record continuously. Hmmmmm. Sounds like Minneapolis might need some high-quality, yet still affordable, hidden cameras and surveillance systems from lanesurveillance.com! For more information, visit us at http://www.lanesurveillance.com.
*The MTA will work with groups such as Mad Dads, which puts volunteers on buses to improve civility and etiquette.

Well, I for one, really hopes that this will work. It’s a shame that you have to fear for your life when riding public transit to work in such a beautiful setting as Minneapolis/St. Paul. Too bad a few bad eggs have to try and ruin things for the rest of us, but let’s just not let that happen!!!