Research from the University of Leicester earlier this year suggested that many criminals are switching from house burglary to personal muggings as ‘traditional’ targets such as DVD players have become so cheap as to have no resale value, with new items such as iPods, which are carried on the person, now more desirable.
The Legal & General panic alarm is simple to download and activate. In the event of trouble, the prominent Panic button that is displayed on the iPhone screen can be pressed or the phone shaken to emit an ear-shattering alarm to shock and disorientate a potential attacker. This gives the alarm user vital seconds to get away, as well as attracting attention so an attacker thinks twice about following through a possible attack.
The application also has a facility that will automatically call a nominated SOS number from the users address book to get help. The person on the other end of the call is able to hear what's going on and so summon assistance, if necessary. A PIN code set by the user means that if the attacker grabs the phone they will not be able to cancel the alarm and change the application settings or see details of the SOS contact.
Ruth Connor, Head of Consumer Marketing and Proposition at Legal & General’s general insurance business, said:
“We’re trying to give people a little extra peace-of-mind when walking home at night by combining an easy-to-use panic alarm with a simple way of making a call for help. Feeling safe outside of the home, whether it’s on the way back from work or the pub or simply going to your car is just as important as feeling safe inside. The application is just about the most convenient way for people to carry around an attack alarm. Because it’s on their phone, they are less likely to forget it.”
Police forces, such as the Metropolitan Police, recommend personal attack alarms as a sensible and legal deterrent for your safety, not just for protection against possible attacks, but for other crimes such as stalking, for example.
