If you've ever been victimized by crime, you know how vulnerable it makes you feel. Here are some methods that will help you stay safe, so that if you've been victimized before, you will reduce your chances of becoming a victim again. And if you have not been a victim of crime, there are some ways to help make sure you never are.

Below are several methods and strategies that will help you stay safe and keep you from being attacked by a predator. The techniques below can help keep you safe and can help keep you from becoming the victim of an attacker. These proven methods are self-defense, using self-defense weapons such as taser guns or pepper spray, and a few other methods that can help keep you from becoming a crime victim.

First, if you can ever stop a crime before it occurs, this is the safest and best way to keep from becoming a victim. You can stop crime before you become a victim in four ways. First, never look frightened, even if you are. Your fright will tip off an attacker to your vulnerability and make you an easier target. Even if you are frightened, appear confident. This is hard to do, but imperative to keep you safe.

Second, in the event you have to protect yourself, use every self-defense technique you can think of and fight until your attacker goes away or until you are physically incapacitated. Never give up even if you feel like you must. Remember that once you give in, the attacker can take you somewhere and then the danger can really escalate into something you can't stop. As long as you fight your attacker and don't let him take you, this greatly increases your chances of staving off your attacker.

Third, if you have to go alone anywhere, stay alert and aware of your surroundings at every moment. Being absorbed in something else and not noticing your surroundings is one of the best ways an attacker can sneak up on you so that you become a victim.

Lastly, remember that appearing confident (even if you're not) can help prevent attacks. If you're afraid, don't show it. Keep your shoulders back, head up, and walk quickly but firmly to your destination.

Still another way that you can help keep yourself safe if you become an attacker's victim or if you think you're being followed by someone is to learn some basic martial arts techniques. Used properly, they can help save your life.

Keep in mind that you don't deserve to be a crime victim, and yet both women and men become victims every day. When you take a martial arts self-defense class, ask questions and make sure to learn everything you can during the instructions so that you can use them properly should you ever come under attack.

When you look for a self-defense or martial arts class to take, it's a good idea to ask the following questions:

Is there a self-defense class available for someone who is simply "average" in physical fitness, yet useful for staving off an attacker? Where is a good place to look for a martial arts instructor or program? What are some things to look for when you're determining whether a martial arts class is truly useful, simply mediocre, or even substandard?

In addition, if you're a woman especially, it might be helpful for you to use pepper spray or even a taser gun as a self-defense weapon. Should a situation become life threatening, these can help save your life, and yet they are nonlethal themselves.

Stun guns, too, are not lethal. Yet, they can help prevent an attacker from continuing his attack, and you will be protected while the attacker should run off. However, remember that having these weapons does not guarantee your safety. They do work quite well, however, and are safe to use.

Still, not all of these weapons are good for dangerous situations, and remember that the weapon can be used by the attacker on you, if it can be gotten away from you. Use common sense when you carry one of these weapons, if you decide to.

One of the most effective weapons available today in self-defense is a taser gun. Should you choose not to use a taser gun, all of the above techniques and tools are effective self-defense techniques in the event of an attack. Make sure to be careful anytime you must go anywhere by yourself, keep these tips in mind, and use them to help protect yourself in the event an attack arises.