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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2006 > February > 21 > Entry
Part 2: Common sense, being alert
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
More advice on how to avoid being a crime victim (see previous post):
Personal protection
— Think about where you are going and what time you’re going to be there. Don’t just decide to go to the ATM after dark when you can do it earlier.
— Don’t use walk-up ATMs, especially after dark.
— Don’t walk in areas you are not familiar with for instance, after events such as concerts, games, etc.
— Safety in numbers. Go somewhere with a friend.
— Don’t wear loose clothing and secure you purse using a shoulder strap. Tuck the purse under your arm.
— Keep your money and credit cards in your front pocket so that if you’re robbed of your purse, you won’t lose as much. Better yet, the smaller the purse, the less it attracts attention to someone who wants to steal it.
— If someone pulls a weapon and demands your purse or wallet, give it to them.
— When you get to your car, get in and go. Don’t hang around talking on the cell phone or whatever else that can wait.
— I suggest that you buy and carry pepper spray. Get the good stuff that shoots about a 10-foot stream. Have it in your hand when you’re in an area that leaves you vulnerable.
— Have it discreetly on you as not to advertise it.
— Don’t be afraid to use it.
— If you use it, it takes a couple of seconds to hit the membranes. Use a lot of it, not short bursts of pepper gas.
— Don’t abuse the would-be attacker while he rolls around on the ground. Call the police.
Personal attack
This is the hardest part of prevention to give advice on because it involves the possibility of deadly force. Women particularly are targeted for sex crimes that often result in injury or even death. It’s easy to tell people what they should do in an event of a personal attack but most advice is given in the best case scenario which is rarely the case.
Having some prior information and doing some advance (recon) can make the world of difference. Fundamentally, the rapist needs to get the victim from a public place to a private place to commit the crime. It could be a car, or a side street, a stair well in a building or in your home. Never assume this can’t happen. Think about what you’re doing and where you’re going AHEAD of time. Don’t get yourself isolated or walk alone in the city or in places you’re not familiar with, especially after dark.
Never accept rides and watch what you accept as a drink from a stranger. We see many cases of victims who were drugged. The last thing they remember was accepting a drink from someone they didn’t know or just met. Check the Web for more advice. Go to any search engine and type in PERSONAL PROTECTION and pick up some tips you probably didn’t know.
Above all, use common sense and don’t be afraid of inconveniencing yourself to change a schedule or habit for safety’s sake.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Jonny
February 21, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this
Don’t abuse the would be attacker once he is down? Awwww, you take all the fun out of everything, don’t you Mr. Detective?
By Bill Mangum
February 21, 2006 10:48 AM | Link to this
What you are saying makes a lot of sense, be aware of your surroundings. But ain’t it awful and terrible that we have to be concerned about being attacked in our regular daily lives, and even in our homes?
What I would like to know, is when and how are we going to come up with a solution to all the foolishness? Are we going to have to go back to the 1870s and everyone become like the man in the Marty Robbins song, ” with the big iron on his hip”? What is happening to our country? Bill Mangum
By Victoria
February 21, 2006 11:00 AM | Link to this
One other good piece of advice…carry your keys - most of us have a ring full - spread out between your fingers. Makes a great pair of brass knuckles if needed!
By kristin
February 21, 2006 11:49 AM | Link to this
Also make sure your keys are in hand before leaving a secure area (house, store, ect.)so your not forced to “fish” around for them when you get to your car.
By kristin
February 21, 2006 11:50 AM | Link to this
Oh and I think you need one quick kick when the attacker is down, (just to be on the safe side)
By g8trh8tr
February 21, 2006 12:06 PM | Link to this
Don’t abuse the attacker while he rolls on the ground? Can you think of a BETTER time to abuse him? Seriously, if you can get him in a situation where he’s incapacitated, I say beat the hell out of him and maybe he’ll think twice before trying to mug someone next time. I know several good ole boys who encountered someone by their truck one night when leaving a bar in Statesboro. The guy took them at gunpoint and made them drive him toward Savannah & then up I-95. Sometime after they got into North Carolina, the guy fell asleep. They dragged that guy out of the truck and really did a number on him. One guy said that his leg was hurting from kicking the guy so many times. From what I understand the criminal was happy to see the police arrive.
By fk
February 21, 2006 2:05 PM | Link to this
Years ago, Oprah had a safety expert on her show. He recommended that you keep your keys handy, but on two separate key chains. Separate the car keys from your house keys. He said that if someone demanded the car keys, throw the house key as far as possible, in the opposite direction. Hopefully, the bad guy would chase the key, giving you time to then get into the car and take off. He continued that by keeping separate key chains, if someone wound up with your car, they would not necessarily have access to the home. He also recommended not keeping any information in the car that included the home address, such as mail or a wallet in the glove box, because more likely than not, the garage door opener is in the car. If you leave mail in the car, the bad guy would then know where you lived, even if he did not get your purse.
By Dan
February 21, 2006 2:11 PM | Link to this
I believe that Steve’s advice is useful. Crime is and always has been a problem in the United States. However, I often read comments from people asking the question, “what is happening to our country?” The simple answer to that question is: it’s getting safer. Crime is down significantly from the 1970’s and 1980’s. Is it still a problem? Sure. However, to live in fear and believe that the U.S. is becoming increasingly more dangerous is doing a disservice to those who have made great strides in keeping our country safe.
By Steve T
February 21, 2006 4:41 PM | Link to this
In regards to fk’s comment about not keeping your home address in the car - the registration contains this information! Since this may be needed if requested by police and I don’t want a crook to wind up with it and my garage door opener and maybe housekeys, I keep it hidden in the vehicle so that it is still available if needed.
By Becki
February 21, 2006 4:41 PM | Link to this
I think there are two points behind not beating your attacker: 1) You give them time to recover enough to pull you down by the leg you’re kicking them with. 2) You could (and this is absurd) face a civil lawsuit at the very least. Unfounded, yes. But it’s been known to happen. Bad guys really do sue the good guy over a few broken ribs, so keep in mind that while you will likely win, you don’t want the legal and monetary trouble it may cause for you.
By mark
February 21, 2006 4:59 PM | Link to this
How about just moving from crime-ridden Atlanta, where you have to always look over your shoulder.
By jj
February 21, 2006 6:57 PM | Link to this
Steve’s advice is good, however I would add a few points.
If you need to use an ATM after dark, then go to a grocery store like Kroger’s for Bank of America or Publix for their Presto system, which includes Bank of America and SunTrust. If your bank doesn’t have ATMs located inside of your local grocery store, change banks.
Pepper spray is a good thing to carry, but if you are going on a business trip to another state, make sure their laws allow you to take it with you and then pack it in your check-in baggage. Don’t attempt to go to San Francisco with Pepper spray in your purse, unless you want to visit their jail. And don’t try to use Pepper spray on someone who has pulled a gun on you; Give that person what they want.
By Michael
February 21, 2006 9:07 PM | Link to this
Columns like this may be useful for those who have never considered their personal safety or who live in neighborhoods with high crime rates, but they perpetuate a sense that we must live in fear. Cops have a tendency to think things are worse than they are, because they only see the crimes. In reality, if people were less afraid of walking downtown at night, were less wary of every single person they saw, and were more willing to make the effor to improve neighborhoods rather than avoid them, downtown would improve and we would have even less crime to worry about.
By 10code96overThis
February 22, 2006 2:06 AM | Link to this
I ended up a victim to sexual assault and was royally p** when he pled out with a 6 months sentence - he attacked me on a Friday and was pleading on Monday at first show and it was two days after that, a wednesday, that I got my first notice of the crime being received at the DAs office. I called in expecting the priveledge of voicing my pain and suffering to a judge… and found that this guy was getting off with 6 months on a single MISDEMEANOR A&B instead of two felonies!
Let me tell you something - I beat that man unconscious before I ran to call the cops and I enjoyed every minute I kicked him around.
He was still out cold when I arrived with the police forty minutes later.. They had to work to revive him to get him in the cop car.
I found out through Victims Assistance and a sweet connection to the sheriffs department that this man has assaulted six other women before me.
Thinking back, If I could go back in time and repeat it all I would make SURE i broke at least one or three ribs, maybe a few fingers, and give more than just a few swift kicks .. well - “Dirty Bob” didn’t get enough IMHO.
By Trae
February 22, 2006 5:00 AM | Link to this
Steve, Can’t I just shoot the would be robber with my trusty .40 caliber Smith n Wesson? I go nowhere without my pistol, and I do not trust pepper spray. I suggest all law abiding readers get a concealed weapons permit that can be obtained at the North Annex Building on Roswell Rd.
By TJ 2000
February 22, 2006 7:05 AM | Link to this
I agree with Trae. I also am a permit carrying 45 auto. But I would like to emphisize training and practice, practice and more practice. It has been proven by statistics that where there are people who take the responibility for their own safety the presonell assault crimes have gone down. The police departments are under paid and under staffed and are not bound by the constitution for our personall protection. I applaude our men and women of law enforcement.
By JJO
February 22, 2006 7:29 AM | Link to this
I’d like to add one more piece of advice. When a female is entering her car after dark, lock the doors first thing upon getting into it. Then put your key into the ignition.
By Paul Young
February 26, 2006 3:17 PM | Link to this
Hello Steve,
Is it legal to defend yourself with a concealed weapon with license from a would be attacker since you do not know if they are on drugs, have some training in martial arts, strong enough to break your neck, intend to kill you to avoid prison etc.
If they contuining can attack and most of them get away with the crime since most people do not know whom they are-what is the deterient for crimes to continue/escalate?
By Amy
February 27, 2006 12:59 PM | Link to this
Victoria, It is never a good idea to spread you keys in your fingers. You should have one big key that you hold in the palm of your hand like you would hold a knife. Lacing the keys through your fingers is a way for you to get hurt.