Only weeks after my brother suggested I not go alone to visit our mother's memorial tree, planted along a lovely, peaceful rail trail, we learned a lone male hiker was robbed in that area by three men on a weekend afternoon.

One of my sisters had gone to the tree by herself a week earlier and said she felt wary and uncomfortable.

"I was the only person in the woods and the only car in the parking lot," she said.

She decided then and there not to go alone again. Smart decision.

She recognized the risks and chose to remove the opportunities for crime.

The best way to protect ourselves from becoming victims of criminal activity is to anticipate and recognize the risks of our behaviors and take appropriate actions to prevent harm.

As my brother likes to say, "You have to think like a criminal. What would he look for? Where would he hide?"

Obviously, we should at all times be alert to our surroundings when we are out and about.

But we can take personal safety a step further by walking in pairs or groups, if possible, and avoiding secluded or dark areas.

Valuables carried with us, such as jewelry, cash and credit cards, should be kept to a minimum. But don't just lock them in the car in plain sight. Put them in the vehicle's locked trunk. Better yet, leave them at home.

Never leave car doors unlocked or keys in the ignition while the vehicle is unoccupied.

When returning, before entering the vehicle check to make sure no one is hiding in it. And keep the doors locked while driving.

Try to do most errands in daylight hours. Don't tempt criminals by placing a purse or laptop or other valuables where they can be grabbed through a window or door while the car is stopped.

Likewise, while shopping do not put a purse or cellphone in the cart. Many valuables have been stolen in an instant while a shopper was preoccupied looking at merchandise.

Crime does not happen to us only while we're out, of course. It often happens at our homes.

Thus, good crime prevention must begin at home.

Use automatic timers on lights, both interior and exterior, while away, and, if on vacation, stop delivery of mail and newspapers.

Give the impression the home is occupied. Have a neighbor keep an eye out for suspicious activity while you are away.

All exterior doors and windows should be closed and locked securely every time the house is unoccupied.

A friend was robbed recently when she left a bathroom window, which opens onto a locked, screened porch, slightly ajar for ventilation.

While she was at work, a thief cut the screen and entered her home through the bathroom window. She was stripped of irreplaceable valuables and mementos.

Never hide the key to your home outdoors under a doormat or planter or on top of the door frame. Burglars know all those hiding places.

And don't announce to the world you are away or when you will be returning. Some people put notes on their doors or messages on their answering machines, alerting potential thieves of good crime opportunities.

Social media posts while away on vacation also tell the world your home is vulnerable. Better wait until returning home to display vacation photos on the Internet.

If valuables are stored at home, never leave them in plain view. A wallet or purse placed near a window may be too tempting for a passerby to resist.

And don't forget the cellar door and attached garage. These, too, can provide access to the house and need to have good locks, preferably deadbolts.

To further protect your property, consider installing a security system and alarms.

Most burglars are looking for fast and easy access. If they have to work hard to get into a home, they usually will leave and try another target.

Don't invite trouble. Look for ways to prevent crime, both inside the home and while out in the world.

Each of us can and should take measures to reduce the probability of becoming a victim of crime.