I teach an online class called Interrupt the Attack Cycle and one of the activities we do during class is for you to act like a criminal. You pretend that you are stalking yourself and are looking for loopholes in your awareness and security that the criminal could use to strike against you.
I would like you to do the same and examine your habits. If you were watching you, where are you vulnerable? When? How? Why? Start thinking about your actions and examine what others can see and use to strike at you.
There are three primary personal protection options:
- Non-lethal options include verbal commands, walking away, using a flashlight, calling for help or avoiding the trouble by moving away.
- Less than lethal, the most common of which pepper spray.
- Lethal, such as a firearm and edged weapon.
Let us look for solutions for a few of these issues. Do you have training in each? Do you practice?
- Tools
- Thinking ahead
- Pre-need decisions or critical thinking
- Training
- Practice
I do not have all the answers but layering your protection with any of the above options can give you are better chance of deselection right off the bat.
- Where do you spend the most time during the day? Public area? Permissive environment? Non permissive environment? Do you and your co-workers have an action plan and then schedule occasional drills? Recognize pre-assault cues? De-escalation techniques?
- Where/when are you most distracted in public (putting groceries in the car, dealing with kids, hands full, etc.)? Head up as much as possible. Do not look disorganized. Have a purpose.
- Do you have children? Ages? Age does matter. Are they old enough to help defend you? Are they young and you need to secure them in a car seat? Are they unruly? Lift your head often and have a conversation with your children on how to behave in public.
- Do you lock up your car/house (whatever is applicable) every single time? The FBI says the number 1 reason your house is robbed is because you did not lock your doors and the most common time to burglarize a house is between 10am-3pm so always lock your doors.
- Do you own a dog(s)? If so, do you walk your dog at night? Use a flashlight to identify people and noises.
- Are you a mature person? Please recognize that you are a target which means extra attention may be needed when you are in public.
- Do you have an obvious injury? You are now the gazelle at the watering hole. Know this and plan accordingly.
- If you work away from home, where do you park and do you pick the same spot each day? I know we are “homing pigeons” and like to park in the same spot everyday but consider changing up occasionally so we are not so predictable.
- How do you walk in public? Slow, fast, stroll or saunter, quick bursts, distracted, head down, or with slumped shoulders? The bad guy needs to choose a victim and their first impression of you may be your gait. Walk with your head up, shoulders back, walk with a purpose, swing your arms, take long powerful strides, and move those hips. Look confident.
- Do you work out/run? Where? In a gym? In your house? Run in your neighborhood? Consider carrying a non-lethal or lethal tool on or off body and do not run in your neighborhood on the exact same course every time. Earbuds may be acceptable in the gym, but they are a “no go” outside the gym. You cannot hear anyone approaching.
I will conclude this article by answering the last question, “Are you present” in your environment?” My definition of being present means several different things. One is that you have a good understanding of the attack cycle. There are five things that the bad guy must accomplish in order to strike. They must first look for a victim, then choose, stalk, close and then finally, attack. Another is that you understand what pre violence looks like and can avoid if possible. The last is that you understand that “it could happen to you” so you pay attention and have a plan if something goes sideways.
