By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

We hear stories regularly of people preying on women, whether its at the store or in a parking lot, so what can we do to be safer?

Pontiac Police Chief Jim Woolford gave some tips to keep from being a target for those wanting to take advantage of you for whatever reason.

“Prepare. When you know what your destination is. Be ready to confront your destination. Have your phone put away. Expensive things not in easy reach of someone who might snatch and run. Walk determined. Know what it is you’re there for. Even if you’re there just to browse or shop, keep your head up, be aware of your surroundings , pay attention – if you keep noticing that one person aisle to aisle, that should be a red flag and then you just go to an employee and raise a question about what your concerns are,” Woolford said.

Woolford was a guest on a recent Community Forum, where he talks further about safety in public, which can be found at WJEZ.com.