Unfortunately, we don’t live in a safe world. Personal safety and home security are very big concerns these days. As it is, women don’t even feel safe walking alone in the street, resorting to walking with keys held between their fingers or talking on the phone with a friend until they safely reach their destination. Then there are free apps that can be installed on your phone to track whereabouts and send emergency messages etc., free apps such as Red Panic Button or WalkSafe. And then there are personal safety alarms that you can carry in your pocket or attach to your bag. I recently purchased the Minder 140db Police Approved Mini Personal Alarm for my mum to keep in her coat pocket.
Personal safety alarms are small and discreet devices that easily fit in your pocket or attach to your bag that feature a very loud audible alarm. When they are activated, a loud siren is emitted which hopefully will scare off any would-be attacker and provide a measure of protection.
The Minder Mini Personal Alarm (by JNE Security Ltd) is a small device with a very loud 140db alarm. This small device is Secured by Design Approved (Police Preferred Specification) and has also been independently tested by Sold Secure, receiving the Gold Award
The Minder Mini Personal Alarm comes in a variety of colours and there is even a version with a torch function. I received the square version (without a torch) which measures 40mm x 45mm x 16mm. It is pull pin activated, features an ear piercing 140 decibel siren and a separate keyring with interchangeable carabiner clip. It even has the batteries included.
This personal alarm is small enough to keep in your coat pocket, put on your keyring or clip to your bag (using the supplied carabiner clip) and is so easy to use. The keyring itself doesn’t act as the activation pin, so you are not going to accidentally trigger it when using your keys. It features a separate pin on a nylon cord that when pulled out activates the alarm and produces an ear-splitting 140 decibel siren to hopefully ward off attackers, whether that is the human or even the canine kind. To stop the alarm, you just insert the pin back into the device.
Overall, this is a very loud and easy to use personal alarm. It is small enough to keep in your pocket or hand, on your keys or clipped to your bag and perfect for when walking in the dark. In the event that you need to use it (and hopefully you would never need to) it is extremely easy to pull out the pin using the nylon strap.
One the pin has been pulled out, it immediately emits a very loud siren that will attract a lot of attention and (hopefully) scare off any would-be attacker as they wouldn’t want any attention drawn to them so that they get caught.
The activation pin is a separate piece from the keyring so should stop it being activated by accident. The activation pin is easy to pull out but also seems very secure when in the device so again should stop any false alarms as it won’t fall out easily.
The device itself seems very well made and solidly constructed and it is a police approved personal security alarm. It even comes in a whole range of attractive colours so you can match it your bag, coat or just have a colour you like on your keyring. I have since purchased the model with the torch for my mum, which is an oval shape, which she prefers especially as she can use the torch when putting her keys into the door or looking for something in her bag etc. Joggers can even purchase a version that goes around their wrist.
The device uses LR44 batteries which are supplied and already fitted in the alarm. The batteries are replaceable.
This is an extremely loud, easy to use little device. It is perfect for shocking and disorientating any attacker, giving you the chance to escape to safety or forcing any attacker to flee whilst attracting attention from passersby who can offer assistance or call the police.
The Minder Mini Personal Alarm has a RRP of £12.49 but you can buy them on Amazon for between £5 and £8. I think that’s a bargain, especially for a Secured by Design Approved (Police Preferred Specification) personal alarm.
Whilst it shouldn’t be something that people need to think about or even require, unfortunately it is a personal safety device that children working home from school alone, women walking on their own or anybody else that feels safer with one in their pocket should have.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £12.49 (but can be bought a lot cheaper)
Available to buy from Amazon here.