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New app helps ensure safety wherever you go

With the attacks in North Park and a string of sexual assaults in the past few days, women are being urged to do whatever it takes to stay safe.

SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - With the attacks in North Park and a string of sexual assaults in the past few days, women are being urged to do whatever it takes to stay safe. 

A new app is available to give women peace of mind when they find themselves in an uncertain situation.

“It scares me - it makes me think I'm not going to make it home to my children.”

Misty Steele works late nights and takes extra precautions in light of the recent sexual assaults.

“I always look around - behind me - I let everyone know when I'm going to be home at a certain time and I always try to get rides because I don't feel safe walking,” Steele said. 

A new personal safety app called SafeTrek connects users to the nearest police department when activated.

All the user has to do is turn on the app when they feel unsafe and keep their fingers on the screen until they reach their destination. 

If something unexpected occurs, SafeTrek's dispatch center gets notified.

“Even if you can't respond our call center behind the scene calling the local police department giving them your exact location and name,” said Zach Winkler. 

Aly Hackbart says every woman should have Safetrek.

“I think it offers a lot of peace of mind when they're walking alone,” she said. 

On Saturday night, a woman walking in this dark parking lot at UTC in La Jolla was attacked.

The makers of SafeTrek say the goal of the app is to serve as a mobile panic alarm.

“Still the police have to drive to your location but the nice thing is it tracks your location,” Winkler said. 

“A lot of time if I see people not trustworthy - I don't know what to do - I'll pretend I'm talking on the phone, I think with that app it would be nice to have,” Hackbart said. 

Still, this mother of two says an app should never replace one's sense of awareness.

“I only wear one headphone that way I can always hear what's going on,” Steele said. 

The SafeTrek personal safety app is available on both IOS and Android operating systems for $1.99.

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