Free self-defense classes for women only are available from the police departments in Boca and Delray.

For dates and time, call the police at their non-emergency numbers at the police station. Boca Raton is 561.338.1234 and the Delray Beach Police Department at 561.243.7800.

Below are some tips from the police department to help stay safe:

Don't make yourself vulnerable by not being aware - prevention is 90 percent awareness and avoiding risk.

1. Look confident and look people in the eyes so they know you are aware of them.

2. If you feel like something's wrong, it probably is. Don't ignore your 6th sense. If you are alone, try to get around others.

3. If you are suspicious about something call 911. Better to be wrong than a victim.

4. If you don't have a cell phone, get one.

At home.

1. Use unbumpable (unbumpable locks can't be picked,) dead bolts locks for your doors; don't open the door to strangers; close your blinds and shades at night so others can't see you or your belongings.

Parking lots.

1. Park under a light at night. If the parking lot is deserted, ask the security guard to escort you.

2. Be mindful. When walking back to your car, day or night, don't talk on your cell phone or be thinking about other things. Concentrate on your surroundings.

3. Look under your car as you approach it and look inside before you get in it.

Driving

1. If someone is following you,in your car don't go to your house. Keep your doors locked, drive to the nearest police station or fire department, call 911 and honk your horn. If you don't know where the police station is, find out.

ATM's

1. Avoid going at night or after dark.

Elevators & stairs

1. Stand near the control panel so if necessary you can push the panic button.

2. When getting on an elevator if someone makes you uncomfortable, don't get on it. Conversely if someone gets on and makes you uncomfortable, get off immediately.

3.Avoid isolated stairs.

My suggestion

1. If you have an SUV, you cannot see in the Cargo area. Glue two mirrors on the ceiling in the cargo area and that will enable you to view the back of your car before you get into it.

2. Avoid public restrooms that are secluded.

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A public service announcement sign on Military Trail reads:

Crime Alert. Lock your car doors and don't leave valuables in your car - like we didn't know that.

I recently talked to a Palm Beach County sheriff, and he said there has been a large increase in the number of break ins this year in both in autos and homes everywhere.

Purse snatching at the smaller shopping centers with grocery stores is on the rise. He warns it happens day and night.

One of the tricks is for someone to hide under your car. When you walk up to your car, that person grabs your ankles. Then, as you stand there in shock and panic, the assailant's partner rushes by and grabs your purse. Here I thought that was an urban legend. Guess not.

To find out exactly what's happening in your neighborhood and overall in the village by the sea, go to police activity at mydelraybeach.com.

It has a detailed listing of recent criminal and traffic activity in Delray Beach.

If you see something suspicious, call 911. Better to call and be wrong than ignore a potential crime. If it's a non-emergency, call the police department at 561.243.7800.

As always, stay alert and stay safe.

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Chances are at least a million or more of your nearest neighbors here in South Florida are Fire Ants.

Over 20 million people are bit every year by these aggressive insects. A bite from one is painful and has been compared to a hornet's sting. Worse yet, when Fire Ants attack, they attack in hordes.

The scar from their bite will last forever...or so experts say.

It is estimated that 10 through 15 percent of these bites cause a serious allergenic reaction. Pets can have an allergy to their bites too - my little dog, Lollipop, did.

Young children are especially at risk. but sometimes the nests are too small to be seen making everyone, including pets, vulnerable.

Up to 500,000 biting ants can live in one nest.

They can make nests in electronics - including TV's and computers. Yikes!

There are several ways to kill them. You can use pesticides or environmentally friendly methods - either will do the job. The above web site has all the information you'll need to get rid of these nasty critters.

Just remember, if you don't kill the queen, the nest will come back.

Warn visitors who may be clueless about the danger Fire Ants pose...up North, they're not a problem. Like South Floridians, Fire Ants can't survive more than a two or three weeks in a hard freeze.

If you've ever want to look inside a fire ant colony - here's your chance:

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Bee aware. Look, listen and run. That advise comes from the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

If you see a nest or hear buzzing, get the heck out of there - and fast. There's no way for most of us to recognize a relatively harmless Euoropean Honey Bee's nest from an Africanized bee (killer bees.)

Africanized bees fiercely protect their nests and are easily antagonized by lawn mowers, weed whips or anyone or any thing unfortunate enough to get too close to them. Humans and animals, including pets, are at risk.

Professionals need to be called in to remove nests as they move in swarms and an attack can be fatal.

The following is a youtube video that will show you how to avoid this increasing hazard.

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Some time has passed by since the Town Center Mall murders so we tend to relax.

My advise is don't.

It's cooled off enough now so someone with bad intentions could wait in your car until you return. During the day because of dark windows, it's impossible to see if anyone is in the back seat or cargo area.

Don't count on locked doors or a security system as an absolute guarantee that your car is secure.

Gluing a flat mirror to the ceiling over the cargo area is an easy, inexpensive way to prevent someone from hiding in your car...you would see a reflection in the mirror as soon as you open the car door.

Or open the back door open and leave it open - then open the cargo area. With both areas clearly visible, an intruder cannot slide over the seat from one area to the other.

Remember - before you or your child(ren) get in the car, check both the back seat and cargo area. It's so much better to be safe than sorry.

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