How Not To Be A Victim
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Article by: James Muirhead Beginning with my being a NYPD detective for 20 years, now retired and currently working as a New York state private investigator, I feel that I have the knowledge and experience to share with you some valuable advice , Home Security - The Doors to Your Home for people on how you can and should take some responsibility for keeping yourselves , CCTV Surveillance Systems safer; and for those of you who want to learn more about preventing yourselves , NYC Moving Advice from being a victim of crime, in this day and age. As a detective in one of the busiest and largest cities in the world, New York City, I have come across thousands of victims; many were unable to avoid their fate no matter what they did. There was a large group that would have been able to prevent themselves from becoming victims by following these simple rules. Following is some advice , How You Should Prepare Your House For A Hurricane you can use to minimize your risk in becoming a VICTIM of a CRIME. Much of this advice , Burglar Alarms: Myths and Truths is basic common sense! In this forum I will address some of the issues and how to , Home Security - The Doors to Your Home handle them, along with some examples for you! As I go along, you may realize and tell yourself, , Where Does Safety & Security Begin? Security Expert Explains "I knew that!" Yes, you may then recognize what makes sense when it is pointed out, however, are you really doing it in your daily life? Are you making a conscious effort in making and keeping yourself , Avoiding Crimes When Parking aware, paying attention, and listening to your own 'gut instinct?' If you don't, then you need to learn what to do and put it into practice, make it 'second nature, , Self Defense: Pepper Spray - Why It Is So Effective ' or natural , Hurricane Preparedness for you to do. The more comfortable and natural , Covert Hidden Cameras: Put the Sneak in Sneaking it feels for you to do, the more it will aid you in how not to be a victim! Let me start with, be aware of your surroundings. It takes very little to be observant. While leaving, while on your way and while arriving at your destination i.e. home, , Bug Detectors Get Smaller office, restaurant, events, etc., take notice of who and what is around you! The main advantage a criminal has on you is the element of surprise! If you look like a victim there is a greater chance that in fact, you will become a victim. To clarify this, the 'bad guy' does his homework on body language. He knows for every person that is aware of their surroundings, there will be several people following that are not paying attention to what and who is around them, and he will target those individuals, which are now the prime candidates to be one of his victims. Who do you think he will go after? Could you be his next victim? You look like a victim when you are oblivious to your surroundings; i.e. you are always looking down instead of looking forward and around you while walking; if you are too focused on talking on your cell while walking; if you appear lost and overwhelmed; if you are tipsy and/or drunk; and if you appear timid instead of confident in what you are doing, or where you are walking. Remember; do not confuse CONFIDENCE with ARROGANCE! Being arrogant can sometimes get you into more trouble then being timid. Use a glance, do not stare him down! Being or appearing arrogant can bring on a confrontation with the 'bad guy' because of egos. If you carry yourself , Estate and Mega-Yacht Security Systems and Safe Rooms with some confidence, it can reduce your chances and the percentage of being a victim. Even, if someone isn't really confident they should, at least, portray themselves as confident and be aware of their surroundings, to aid in their own safety, , Home Security - The Doors to Your Home especially when they are walking, and/ or traveling, alone! I often see many prime victims in the heart of NYC. For example, if you just stand in front of the Waldorf-Astoria at 5 p.m. on any given day you will see 90% if not higher of the women who walk by are looking down at the ground. When I've asked people that I know who consider themselves street smart, why they do so, they respond with, "That was to avoid conversation." So I explain to them, that they can still keep their head up, glance at those around, but that they should just continue to walk at a quick pace and that too will help avoid conversation. I've also asked if they could identify anyone that they've walked passed or who has passed by them? Usually they reply, "no." And I often come back with a response such as, "You might have been able to identify their sneakers!" Most of the time they, then, get my point! There is nothing more frustrating to many detectives then a victim saying I didn't see his face and I can't I.D. him. In the event of a crime, often, unless someone else comes forward for the most part, the criminal has gotten away with the crime. For the most part, I tell people not to put yourself , Telephone Bugs That Call You in compromising situations, which I know is at times, easier said then done. Although, if you find yourself , Burglar Alarms: Myths and Truths in a unavoidable situation that makes you feel uncomfortable, or ill at ease, I have some information , Burglar Alarms: Myths and Truths and advice , Burglar Alarms: Myths and Truths on better ways to handle the situation, by being prepared and ready to react appropriately! One example, of an unavoidable situation is that you are in your office building , Test Fidelity with a Spy Phone later then usual and you are going to leave and are waiting to take the elevator, when the door , Home Security Automation Essentials of the elevator opens there is an unknown lone male inside. , Planning for the least Playback Time of Surveillance Video Often a person will go ahead and get on the elevator even when she (he) gets an uneasy feeling. She (he) may think that don't want to show fear to themselves or others; that they feel silly and embarrassed, or they feel they are 'just being paranoid' and 'overreacting,' however, those are times when a crime can be and has been committed. However, you are better off to think and to know that you are much better off being 'safe then sorry!' The better option really, in a case like this, is to be preventative! To think of your safety , Home Security Defend Your Home and Possessions Against Intruders! first! So you should always be prepared for and be thinking that if, or when, a scene such as this occurs, you act as if you've forgotten something, don't get on the elevator and walk away, letting the elevator go on without you. Wait a bit, and then try again! It will not change , Defining the World of Security Cameras your schedule that much, but it is a means to keep you safer, just in case! More often then not, the man will not be on there the next time the door , Home Security - The s to Your Home opens. However, if the same man is on the next time and he appears to be riding the elevator for no apparent reason then, DO NOT get in the elevator and do go back to your office, locking doors , Home Security and the Role of the Alarm System and phone security , Home Protection, What your system may not detect!!! or call , Home Protection, What your security system may not detect!!! 911. You will not be the first person to call , Intruder Alarms Don't Worry Burglars! Police about a suspicious individual; in fact you could very well be stopping a crime and you being a victim. I responded to many suspicious calls , Tropical Hurricane Helene is Howling and I can't ever remember being annoyed at the person who called, if in fact they identified themselves. Another example of being prepared and looking out for safer options is to park near the elevator or stairs if using a parking garage , Types Of Home Security while at work or the office. If you weren't able to find a space close to one of these, then I advise you to try to move your vehicle to a better space closer to one or the other, during a break or at lunchtime. However, just by being closer to the elevator or stairs does not mean you should be less aware or less prepared of your surroundings. Still be prepared when you are going to your vehicle. Have your keys out, don't be fumbling with your pocketbook (purse), look in the windows , Home Safe Home to check the rear seats and/or back cargo area prior to entering your vehicle. Some people have been able to get into cars and will re-lock the doors, , Alarm System: Smoke and Heat Detectors leaving you unsuspecting. If you have mace, or another personal protection device, have it out and don't put it away until you have entered the vehicle and are pulling out. In this day and age, many people do carry mace or some other protection with them, however, when you ask them where it is they will tell you it's in my purse or my pocket. My reply is always the same, "Are you going to ask him for a timeout, so that you can take it out and spray him?" I don't think he will give you the time! In addition, you should manually lock , Planning for the least Playback Time of Surveillance Video your doors. , Home Security Cameras - The Icing On The Cake I know that many car doors , Home Security At Holiday Time automatically lock , Home Protection, What your security system may not detect!!! today, so the tendency is to think they will lock , Avoiding Crimes When Parking on their own. One problem with that thinking is that the doors , Home Security At Holiday Time don't lock, , Where Does Safety & Security Begin? Security Expert Explains until the vehicle is moving at 5-15 mph. So lock , Home Security Defend Your Home and Possessions Against Intruders! them even before putting your key in the ignition. A lonely street is another example or situation that can be problematic, and that you should take into Account while looking out for your own safety. , Home Security Defend Your Home and Possessions Against Intruders! You should have your mace with you, in your hands and ready to use if need be, for one. Also, if you find yourself , Self Defense: Pepper Spray - Why It Is So Effective walking down one and sense someone following or see someone coming towards you, crossing the street can be and is another preventative measure which just adds a few steps to your walking, but may well be what helps you stay safe. , Intruder Alarms Don't Worry Burglars! One more measure you can use is to enter 911 on your cell phone , Surveillance for the Homeowner ready to push send, if need be, as a call , Home Security and the Role of the Alarm System for help. Today, many of the newer phones , Home Security Cameras - The Icing On The Cake are equipped with a GPS chip, so the call , Where Does Safety & Security Begin? Security Expert Explains can be located and even the phone , Avoiding Crimes When Parking can be tracked. In all of the above scenarios (yes you probably will find yourself , Tropical Hurricane Fat Alberto in one of them at one time or another) so BE PREPARED TO REACT!!!! Let me explain what I mean as far as reacting. Self defense courses and martial arts are great, and yes, I believe in them very much, however, the drawback is you have to be trained in them. If it's a passing fancy and you take just a couple of classes, or if you think that several initial classes will make you an expert that isn't the case. I had a drill instructor who told us, "We taught you just enough martial arts to get you hurt, so don't go downtown and confront everyone!" Many people are equipped with various protective devices (i.e. MACE, loud alarms, , Intruder s Don't Worry Burglars! whistles, lighted key chains, pepper , Home Security and the Role of the Alarm System spray, etc.) this is your way of preparing to react. Just have them available and ready. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY! Another situation I've come across, which could be entitled, "you can't tell a book by it's cover," was when a well dressed man in a suit confronted a lone female in a mall parking lot and told her that his car wouldn't start, asking if she help him by using her vehicle to help jump his car. She didn't have any jumper cables, but he assured her that he always traveled with them and that he only needed a short ride to his car and the use of her car to start his. Seeing that he was a middle aged, well dressed business type, she agreed. Mistake # 1! When she pulled up the man got out of the vehicle, and he opened the trunk of his car, however, she began to get suspicious, so she went with her instincts and stated that she had to go back into the store to get something for her husband which she forgot, turned off the car and returned quickly into the mall. When inside , CCTV Surveillance Systems she called security. , NYC Moving Advice A check of the vehicle revealed that in the trunk of his car were gloves, duct tape, rope and a knife. This was a very lucky lady! So remember no matter how they are dressed they can still be a 'bad guy.' This is another reason that demonstrates you should ALWAYS GO WITH YOUR GUT FEELING! It's always better to be safe , NYC Moving Advice then sorry! I know that many women tell their children not to go with any man that they don't know when he tells them that 'his cute little dog is lost,' yet, there are many of you as adults, who may feel that you can handle things well enough, however, don't you fall , Call for Safety Improvements in Design of Domestic Paper Shredders for these games, yourselves! , Home Protection, What your security system may not detect!!! Heed your own advice! , CCTV Surveillance Systems In every city, big or small, there are locations , Surveillance for the Homeowner and neighborhoods that even the people who live there don't venture out at night. Unless you have particular business in those areas, the best thing you can do is to stay clear of those areas, especially, if you are alone. However, if you feel you must go, then be aware and prepared! This is some of the advice, , Home Security System Considerations for Your New Home examples and ideas of protection devices useful aiding you, so you won't become a victim!I am a retired NYPD Detective with more than 20 years service. I currently am a Licensed , Smart Home Security Measures For Your Windows New York State Private Investigator who travels extensively performing Executive Protection and Contract Security , Home - The Doors to Your Home assignments. I recently launched two(2)websites, one, www.safetyandsecurityplus.net - offers many personal protection items, the other http://www.spyzonesupply.net - offers Covert cameras, , 20 Reasons Women Choose Self-Defense At Home Investigative tools, , Smart Home Security Measures For Your Windows tracking devices etc. |
  
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