My sister-in-law recently moved and is renting a room in a condo. Where she has to go in there is a gate that needs to be opened which leads to the patio. The patio is poorly lit so she can't see if anyone is lurking in the corner and the gate does not lock. Not that it would really matter since it is only a 6' tall privacy fence and that isn't going to keep anyone out.
The neighborhood in general is not very good (my wife and I were not pleased when she said where she would be living) but she has signed a lease for a year. Moving is not an option at this point.
Her biggest concerns are when she comes home at 2am after hitting the bars.
One of her friends recommended she carry OC (well she called it mace but you get the idea). She doesn't like that idea very much. Has the classic fear that it will be more of a danger to herself than an attacker. I myself worry that the OC just won't work. I don't own or use OC so I don't really know enough about it to make any recommendation.
My suggestion was that lead offers a higher amount of success than OC. That was shot down (pun intended). Problem being that she does frequent bars/clubs quite often and cannot carry there...this is the primary reason why she is coming home late.
The one thing that was agreed on was to at min. carry a flashlight so you can see if someone is in the patio. At least if you can see if someone is there you have an escape.
My other thoughts are she could get a gun and keep it locked in her car, and only carry it between her car and the apartment. Obviously the flashlight + situational awareness are number one but the gun would give her another option if escape is not possible. Locked in the car because she can't take it in with her to the bar. Probably a S&W j-frame in a pocket holster that she could drop into her purse for trip between car and apartment. I have taken her shooting before.
Other thought was like a 4" folder. I am not sure how many rapists/thiefs want to get stuck with a tactical folder? My biggest fear is that she honestly could be overpowered and disarmed since the knife does require some physical strength. I would think that the second the blade has come out the BG is going to seriously reconsider.
Looking for other solutions. All options need to be self contained. I suspect that the danger is not just the patio but also the walk from car to patio.
Obviously the best options are to move and not go out late. Unfortunately neither of those things are going to change right now so this is the sitation I am trying to find a solution for.
The neighborhood in general is not very good (my wife and I were not pleased when she said where she would be living) but she has signed a lease for a year. Moving is not an option at this point.
Her biggest concerns are when she comes home at 2am after hitting the bars.
One of her friends recommended she carry OC (well she called it mace but you get the idea). She doesn't like that idea very much. Has the classic fear that it will be more of a danger to herself than an attacker. I myself worry that the OC just won't work. I don't own or use OC so I don't really know enough about it to make any recommendation.
My suggestion was that lead offers a higher amount of success than OC. That was shot down (pun intended). Problem being that she does frequent bars/clubs quite often and cannot carry there...this is the primary reason why she is coming home late.
The one thing that was agreed on was to at min. carry a flashlight so you can see if someone is in the patio. At least if you can see if someone is there you have an escape.
My other thoughts are she could get a gun and keep it locked in her car, and only carry it between her car and the apartment. Obviously the flashlight + situational awareness are number one but the gun would give her another option if escape is not possible. Locked in the car because she can't take it in with her to the bar. Probably a S&W j-frame in a pocket holster that she could drop into her purse for trip between car and apartment. I have taken her shooting before.
Other thought was like a 4" folder. I am not sure how many rapists/thiefs want to get stuck with a tactical folder? My biggest fear is that she honestly could be overpowered and disarmed since the knife does require some physical strength. I would think that the second the blade has come out the BG is going to seriously reconsider.
Looking for other solutions. All options need to be self contained. I suspect that the danger is not just the patio but also the walk from car to patio.
Obviously the best options are to move and not go out late. Unfortunately neither of those things are going to change right now so this is the sitation I am trying to find a solution for.
It's perception...)