Experts say that there are people who have a predisposition to become the object of attack. The usual behavior of such people can be called reckless or careless.
Studies show that the attention of criminals is attracted more by a nervous, fidgeting, restrained person, rather than a calm and confident person with straightened shoulders and wide strides.
An ideal target for a crime can be a girl in high heels in a short tight skirt with a bag wide open, from whom you can easily snatch this bag out of your hands. One way or another, there are no absolutely precise criteria for the choice of a particular person as a victim by criminals.
Follow these simple street habits at night to avoid being attacked:
- Think over your evening route. Exclude from it roads that run through wastelands, construction sites, industrial zones, parks, along long abandoned buildings, through passages under overpasses, deserted underground and elevated pedestrian crossings, streets with noisy nightclubs and drinking establishments, unlit paths between houses. It is best to plan a route that goes along well-lit highways and roads where you are in plain sight.
- You should not walk along the dark streets “buried” in the phone screen – it’s like hanging a beacon on yourself to attract the attention of a criminal.
- Move in a crowd of people. If you get off the subway, bus or train, try to walk along with other people, without shortening the path through deserted and dark alleys. The likelihood that you will be attacked with a large crowd of people is very small.
- Let your family know what time you go out, how long it will take you and which route you will take. This will help your family to sound the alarm in time if something happens to you along the way.
- If you know in advance that you will have to return home in the dark, do not wear flashy expensive clothes that might lead the offender to think that you have something to profit from. You should not carry loose-fitting bags, conspicuous jewelry, a wallet with a large amount of money.
- Separate advice: try to take a minimum of banknotes with you or keep large and small money separately. Criminals often look out for the victim at the cash registers of shops, at ATMs, in transport when paying for travel – in those places where you can see the contents of the wallet. Bank cards, if possible, should not even be stored in a bag, but in a separate inner pocket of clothing along with important documents. The bag may be taken away, but documents and bank cards must remain with you.
- It is not just criminals or robbers that can cause trouble. Often, groups of drunk people gather on the street, which can create a conflict situation. It is better not to respond to the provocations of such people. If the conflict threatens to turn into a fight, attract the attention of others with a cry for help and, if possible, call the police.
- They can attack not only on the street, but also at the entrance. Never enter an elevator with strangers. If suspicious people follow you, then before entering the entrance, call your relatives and ask to meet you. In an emergency, if you are attacked, call all apartments and call for help. People respond most quickly to cries of fire.
- Motorists also need to be careful. When turning off the engine, do not rush to open the doors and get out. Take the bag and valuables right away so that the criminal cannot open the door, grab them and run away. In addition to robbery, there is a danger of car theft when criminals simply drop the driver out of the car and drive away. Be vigilant, leave cars in supervised parking lots, as criminals most often wait in unlit areas, behind the corners of buildings, behind bushes and trees.
- If you are threatened and demanded to give your property or money – agree! No jewelry, things, or money is worth your life. Try to remember as many details as possible about the offender: the manner of speaking, tattoos, scars, clothing, distinctive features, height, hair or eye color, facial features. After the robbery, be sure to contact the police, report everything that you managed to remember about the offender. Hot on the trail, there is a better chance of being caught.
