Lower Your Chances of Becoming a Victim of Crime

One of the things that you can do to lower your chances of being a victim of crime is to learn the strategies that attackers use against their potential victims. When you know what attackers look out for, you can use this knowledge to become more aware of your surroundings.

Being Alone and Isolated

Attackers like to approach their victims when they are alone, isolated. They are less likely to get caught in these situations. The isolation can be in the form of walking down a street where there isn't a lot of people around, in a parking lot, in your car or in your home (especially if the attacker is an abusive partner).

Ways to Avoid Isolation

Develop a buddy system. Walk with someone else when you're going to your car at night or in a parking garage. Make sure people know where you're going. If you're on a date with someone for the first time, let your friends know who you're going out with.

If you are being attacked, make noise. Yell out and make a scene in order to draw attention. The attacker might run away if you're making a lot of noise and people come to see what's going on.

If you're walking down the street, try to walk in areas where there is heavy pedestrian traffic. Also, be aware of what stores are nearby so if you are in danger, you can run to the safety of these stores.

Using Surprise

Attackers like to surprise their victims. They can do this by hiding behind something or running up to you. If you're out at the nightclub or bar, attackers can slip something in your drink when you leave your drink unattended.

Again, in order to lower your chances of being a victim of crime, you have to be aware of your surroundings. Not only visual awareness, but listening awareness too. Even when doing this, you can still be surprised by an attacker. That's when you have to go into survival mode and use the self defense moves that will help you get away.

NEVER leave your drink unattended when you go out to the bar or nightclub. Take your drink with you when you're just walking around.

Intimidation and Silence

Intimidation can be used by an attacker in several different ways. They can point a weapon at you or use mean looking facial expressions. They will also use derogatory language towards you in order to make you feel helpless.

In order to not draw attention to the situation, some attackers will tell you to be quiet or "shut up". They might threaten you in order to make sure you don't make a sound.

In these last two situations, you have to use your judgment. You never know what you're going to do until the situation happens. If you think that yelling out and causing a scene will help draw attention and scare off the attacker, then do it.

Even though you will be scared in an intimidation situation, if you can appear calm, look the attacker in the eye and not look intimidated, then go for it. It also doesn't hurt to know some basic self defense moves just in case you need to use them to escape.

If you want to learn self defense moves and lower your chances of becoming a victim of crime, try to find some self defense classes in your local area. You will be more comfortable using the moves when you practice them. A self defense class is a good way to get that practice.