Protect Yourself From Crime!

On January 24, 2021, Indianapolis residents awoke to news of a mass shooting that claimed the lives of five people and an unborn child.

“My first instinct was to see if I knew the victims or any of their family,” said Becky Roulette, who worked close to the tragedy and has lived in Indianapolis since childhood.

Becky’s husband, Frank, also grew up in Indianapolis. “There were times when we had to sleep on my parents’ bedroom floor, keeping our heads low, just in case there were any stray bullets,” he said. “We raised our kids in that same house. So, unfortunately, they had to do the same thing.”

Indianapolis surpassed its own record for homicides in 2020 and again in 2021. This is part of a national trend. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report published in September 2021, the number of murders in the United States increased by 30% in 2020.

This increase in crime creates anxiety and fear for many Indianapolis residents. They want to do all they can to protect themselves and their loved ones from the physical injury, material loss, and mental and emotional trauma that results from crime.

“We have had our home broken into multiple times,” Frank said. “After you have been through that, it truly does impact you physically and mentally.” Becky added, “I constantly feel unsafe.”

The Roulettes found free resources on jw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses, that proved especially helpful for their family. The article “Protect Yourself From Crime!” contains several practical suggestions that the family put into practice to increase their personal safety.

“We have to constantly be aware of our surroundings,” Becky said. “The minute you are not paying attention, someone can take advantage of that.”

Taking such practical steps can provide some peace of mind as residents do their best to keep their families safe.

“With my anxiety, I don’t go to bed until I triple-check everything,” Frank said. “The doors are locked, the windows are locked, the vehicles are okay. That helps me to calm down and have a little peace of mind.”

The article also highlights the Bible’s comforting message about the future of crime. God promises a peaceful world without crime and violence.

“It is refreshing to think of the time when we will be able to leave the screen door open and feel safe at any time of day or night,” Frank said. “It is amazing to think that even the anxieties will be gone,” said Becky. “My children will never have to worry about those things again.”

This article and more information on the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses, including resources for coping with anxiety, can be found on jw.org.