How to Avoid Being a Crime Victim

By Teresa Bernard

One of the most common crimes in our society is personal assault. No matter what type of attack it may be, whether robbery, mugging, etc., it is can cause serious damage to our sense of personal security and well being. How does one avoid becoming the next victim of a violent crime? Why does an assailant look for when he chooses his next prey? Attackers can easily spot the signals of their next likely target. Knowing what they look for when they make their selection can help you steer clear of being that unlucky person.

An assailant is looking for an easy mark. One who appears powerless, meek and naive. A target not capable (or won't) fight back is someone who is easy to waylay. It's important to know that the your prospect of becoming a victim is predisposed by the signals you aren't even aware you are sending to an assailant. Our body language and non-verbal cues are the unconscious signals that make up 80-90% of our communication to others. Attackers, whether consciously or instinctively, will form an opinion about you. They determine how easy you will be to subdue and control from these signals.

Fortunately there are ways to reduce your chances of being an attack victim. If these creeps look for individuals who appear to be subdued, passive and distracted, then you must portray the opposite. One way is to convey an air of confidence. Confidence is a non-victim quality. The more confident or self-assured one appears, the less likely are the chances of becoming "the mark". An attacker will avoid a subject who appears capable of resistance and difficult to subdue. Any display of strength or defiance, whether blatant or implied, is often sufficient to cause a predator to seek out an easier target. One way to portray self-assurance would be to walk with your head held upright, at a brisk pace as if with a purpose and look alert.

Being strongly aware of your surroundings at all times is another way to lower the odds of becoming a victim. Being more aware allows you better opportunity of detecting a potential attacker and you also project an image of vigilance. Be conscious of who is around you and what activities or events are going on at all times. Make eye contact with everyone who is walking toward you. villains are looking for a target who isn't paying attention and are unaware of what's going on. So put away all of your "electronic gadgets!" Turn off your cell phone, iPod, PDA, laptop, etc. If you use devices like these in a public place, such as a parking garage, mall, or park, you run the risk of being distracted and could get caught off guard by an assailant before you realize what is happening.

In addition to depicting self-confidence and being keenly alert, it would be wise to protect yourself from harm by carrying a few standard self-defense devices such as a personal alarm, pepper spray and/or stun gun. A personal alarm is the perfect self-defense device for drawing attention to yourself when needed. These small, inexpensive items are easily carried and emit a loud and extremely obnoxious noise. Pepper spray is a non-lethal aerosol spray made with the pepper derivative oleoresin capsicum (OC). Sprayed in the face and/or eyes of a mugger, it will irritate the eyes, cause tears, pain, and even in some cases, momentary blindness. A stun gun is a self-defense weapon designed to temporarily disable an assailant by delivering a non-lethal, high-voltage electric shock. You must remember security devices will not keep you safe if you do not use them. - 31373

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