The best self-defense situation is the one that did not have to happen. The best way to protect yourself is to learn how to avoid dangerous situations whenever possible.
In the United State a violent crime occurs every 27 seconds on average. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Crimes against property such as burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft and arson occur every 3.7 seconds.
Are you going to protect yourself or be a crime victim?
Protect yourself from crime by getting training.
Have you ever considered just how vulnerable you are to becoming a victim? Take a moment to consider how you go throughout your day and think of areas and situations of weakness where you may be more vulnerable to a criminal.
What do you think when you hear the word “criminal”? It is impossible to look at someone and know just from their appearance if they are a criminal or not. However we can understand a little about their personality and use that knowledge to help develop our plan.
Criminals camouflage themselves well
Criminals are usually good at blending in and are always looking for an opportunity to take advantage of someone to get what they want. They are very selfish in their attitudes and usually consider niceness as weakness.
There are steps we can take to reduce the risk of being attacked or having our property taken from us. The most important element we must use is self-awareness as we go about our day. Our first response is to prepare ourselves mentally to deal with any situation we could encounter. You can read more about mental preparation in a previous blog post.
Create multiple layers of protection
An effective plan should contain multiple layers of elements with each layer serving a specific purpose that work together to protect yourself.
Many individuals will purchase a firearm to keep at home or for concealed carry and falsely believe it is all they need. In reality, a firearm is only a single element that should be part of a much larger plan of self-protection.
Your physical security is most at risk when you are in public, especially if you are in an unfamiliar location. We need to be aware of our surroundings and not allow ourselves to become distracted. Keep your head up as you walk so you can see if someone is following you or if there is anyone who appears to be looking for an easy target.
Criminals prefer easy targets and making yourself more of a challenge will help to deter from targeting you as their next victim. Our behavior and how we present ourselves is the first thing everyone around us will notice. Distractions make it easier for a criminal to surprise you.
Cellphones can help and harm you
Most people carry a cellphone with them everywhere these days. They are very handy devices and can be an important tool in your personal safety. However, cellphones can be the reason we become vulnerable.
The next time you’re in a public place, look around and take note of the number of people who are on their cellphones surfing the internet or playing games. Their heads will be down and they will be unaware of everyone else around them. Have you ever walked up to someone who is on their phone and they didn’t notice you? If you were a criminal what would you have been able to have done to them? Those are questions you should ask yourself about how you go about your day in public places.
Self awareness is very important
The prevention of crime isn’t the only reason we need to be more aware of our surroundings. There are many videos online that show people being distracted by their cellphone. The videos show them getting injured because they walked into walls or traffic or have fallen over other objects.
You can refuse to be a victim by investing the time to learn how to protect yourself from criminals. Are there any areas in your life you can think of right now where you are vulnerable? Please comment below with your answer.