How to Avoid Being a Crime Victim

Unfortunately personal attacks are a very common crime in our society today. Whichever form it may be, a robbery or assault, it is one of the most insidious invasions of our personal safety. Why does an attacker pick one individual to become his victim and not another? What do they look for when they choose their victim? Attackers are very good at noticing the signs of a potential victim. It’s a good idea to know what these signs are so you can circumvent the likely hood of becoming the next potential victim of crime.

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.

Another way to reduce your probability of becoming a victim is to be acutely aware of your surroundings at all times. By becoming more aware of your surroundings, you not only increase the odds of detecting a potential attacker, you also project an image of vigilance. Pay attention to who is around you and what activities or events are going on at all times. Notice everyone walking toward you and look them in the eye. Criminals look for potential victims who are distracted and off guard. So put away those “electronic toys!” Get off your cell phone, iPod, PDA and laptop. Using these gadgets in public places like parking garages, malls, parks, etc., can lessen your ability to detect potential danger and makes you an easy mark. If you are distracted and not paying attention you might not even realize you are going to be attacked until it is too late to escape.

In addition to portraying self-assurance and being acutely vigilant, you should make it a habit to protect yourself from harm by carrying a few standard self-defense products such as a personal alarm, pepper spray and/or stun gun. A personal alarm is the ideal self-protection device for drawing attention to yourself when needed. These small, inexpensive items are easily carried and emit a deafening and abhorrent noise. Pepper spray is a non-lethal defensive aerosol that is made from oleoresin capsicum (OC), a derivative of pepper. It irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, and even temporary blindness. A stun gun is a defensive weapon designed to momentarily immobilize an attacker by delivering a non-lethal, high-voltage electric shock. But remember, these security devices will not keep you safe if you do not use them.

To learn more about self defense weapons and how they can help keep you safe visit www.a1selfdefenseproducts.com.