WHEN I returned home late recently after a night out in town, my mother greeted me with a scowl: “Do you know what time it is? Aren’t you afraid of meeting a se lang (sex predator) at this hour?”

It is not my favourite welcome line, but my mother’s outburst was not without reason.

Just the day before, news of a full time national serviceman sentenced to more than 30 years in jail for molesting and sexually assaulting nine girls made newspaper headlines.

Though I could understand where my mother was coming from, I replied, albeit a little nonchalantly: “Don’t worry, I’m at home now, aren’t I?”

Subconsciously, I was thinking that such a thing would never happen to me. Singapore is such a safe place, so what are the odds that I would be so unlucky?

I bet that is what most girls (and guys) think.

But this mindset of complacency needs to change.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not belittling Singapore’s reputation as one of the safest countries in the world. I know that cases like the one mentioned above are few and far between.

However, to borrow a line from a national crime-prevention campaign, low crime doesn’t mean no crime. And everyone is a potential victim.

Just because I have never been attacked does not mean that I will never be, should I let my guard down.

Though most of my friends do not think they would meet sex predators, a few do take precautions.

One of them has a device that gives off a shrill alarm whenever she pulls the trigger, and her mother wants her to take it along wherever she goes.

Furthermore, she would avoid dark alleys and shortcuts when making her way home.

Another friend said she would chat with her boyfriend or family members on her mobile phone while walking home.

She explained that this would give potential sex predators the impression that her loved ones knew where she was and would be able to go to her rescue fast if anything should happen.

Yet another said that she would take a taxi home after 10pm.

These methods to foil would-be sex predators may not be foolproof, but at least these girls are taking proactive steps to protect themselves. Which is more than I can say for myself.

Not only do I take my safety for granted, but I also tend to dismiss my parents’ concerns for me.

I am also heartened that bubble lifts are now installed in some HDB blocks. To some extent, the transparent lift walls would deter sex predators from attacking victims in lifts.

I am not promoting paranoia among women and girls, but I am urging them to shed their complacency and take their safety more seriously.

After all, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

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