Personal Security In High Risk Areas

JULY 2009 SECURITY BEYOND BORDERS™

PERSONAL SECURITY IN

HIGH RISK AREASGUIDELINES TO AVOID BECOMING

A VICTIM OF URBAN VIOLENCE


MAIN THREATS

Express KidnappingIt can last between 1 a 24 hours, generally to extract money through ATM transaction

Kidnapping Victim chosen based on social status, hierarchy, type of car driven, etc. In TT kidnapping cases have decreased by 30%. 2 kidnappings in 2009 YTD.

CarjackingIt could be any type of car. It is generally done by customer order and it’s selected based on year, make and model to be used for parts.

Armed Assault The degree of outcome would depend on the victim’s reaction

HomicideAccording to the Police Department’s statistics, homicide cases have increased by 22% during the last 2 years.


PREVENTION

Nothing is 100% guaranteed when it comes to Security

PREVENTION

REACTION

LUCK

In Personal Security prevention represents 90% of the actions. For that reason must actions would be concentrated during this phase.


PREPARING FOR AN ASSAULTIn general all assaults have a certain degree of preparation that consist of:

Selecting the targetThis phase could take months, days or merely seconds. During this phase the delinquent select their target.

Identifying the target The target is selected. In most cases it’s the weakest looking most distracted person or simply has what the criminal is looking for (money, car, etc)

Surveillance (*) During this period the criminal evaluates the situation surrounding the victim before the attack

PlanningThe criminal has all the information needed; they now plan how to attack (day, time, place, weapon, etc.)

Attack (**)The criminal executes the attack. During this phase there is no opportunity for prevention, and less than 5% of disruption actions are successful.

(*) This is the best opportunity to interrupt the criminal’s actions.(**) This is the worst time to attempt to interrupt the criminal’s actions.


RULES

The Criminal:

Does not want to be exposed;

Always select their victim;

Always selects easy targets; the most distracted;

During the assault the criminal is nervous or afraid;

Overreacting is of the Highest Risk.


RULES

Situational Awareness•The criminal does not fit a particular aspect.

• The criminal profiling model is outdated.

• Many people claim they were rob by well dressed delinquents at traffic lights.

Always Observe:

• Body language; behavior

• The hands (Generally tucked in pockets)

• The eyes (Some say the eyes are windows to the soul; and it’s true: observe the eyes and you will know if the suspect has bad intentions)


PREVENTATIVE ACTIONS

To think that it can’t happen to you.

Allow it to happen.(Keep money in a separate pocket to hand over to the criminal upon demand)

Act on prevention, deterring the attack from occurring.


WALKING DOWN THE STREET

►While walking down the street observe everything going on around you, including behind you.

►If you see a suspicious person observe his/her hands and if possible the eyes.

►For the criminals space is their enemy, that’s the reason they need to “Close the Space”, in other words they need to get close to carry out the attack.

►Always try to keep 20 meters between you and the suspect.

►A person cannot attack another at a distance or remotely.



Situational Awareness

Always Try to maintain a 20 meter distance

between you and the suspect


If the suspect tries to close the space between you, proceed as follows:

► Change sidewalk and observe the suspect’s behavior.

► If the suspect changes sidewalk as well, the probability that he/she will attack is much higher.

► Do not allow the suspect to “close the space”, if it occurred you have nothing else to do, the criminal has won.



To keep the suspect from “closing the space”:

► Find a safe place of refuge; a well populated place, police station, or business where there are security guards/surveillance cameras.

► If you can’t find a safe place, turn around and walk in the opposite direction, this way you maintain distance from the suspect.

Use the following Matrix as a guide



Suspect is headed your way:

Change direction, to maintain distance between you and him/her.

Suspect walks faster in your direction:

Find a safe haven and well populated (a store, supermarket, etc.).

Can’t find a Safe Haven : Run and observe the suspect’s reaction. Run before the suspect can close space between you. Never run after you’ve been attacked.

If the suspect runs in your direction:

It is clear he/she is trying to assault/rob you. In that case Scream.

In most cases the criminal will not run after you. He/She does not want to call attention and will prefer to choose an easier target.



What should you scream?Yelling “help” would make people around stay away, because it is clear that there is danger.

Yelling “fire” arouse interest in people who are naturally curious. Many people would come out of their homes to find out where the fire is.

Yelling someone’s name, “Rocky”, is a good option, because it’s uncommon and the criminal would fear that you’re known in the vicinity. (Who is Rocky. A friend, a police officer, a fierce dog?). Chances are great that he/she would desist.

Rule If you have a gut feeling that a suspect would attack never allow the criminal to close the space between you. Many assault victims recall having a bad feeling that something was wrong, but did not do anything to prevent it.



PARKING

Parking Lot

•Choose public parking lots

•Look around the general area before parking

•Plan your arrival and departure times, since a busy lot during daylight may be isolated and dark at night time.

• Practice situational awareness, if you see somebody or something suspicious ride on and evaluate the situation.

•In any doubt regarding your safety, call the police.

•Always take the key out of the ignition before exiting the car.

•Never leave your home keys inside the car.

•Never stay inside the parked car, since that would make you an easy target

•Do not leave valuable objects in plain sight inside the car.

•If upon your return to the car you find anything suspicious that would prohibit you from driving away, call a two truck. Somebody could have deliberately immobilized the car.

• If you observe someone breaking into your car do not approach. Get help without being noticed. (many car models have remote controls with panic buttons, which you can press for 5 seconds to acti- vate the alarm)


WHILE DRIVING

Driving•Do not place stickers on your car that allow anyone to identify where you live, work or go to school.

• Always keep your windows up or just cracked opened to let in fresh air.

• If you travel by taxi ask the driver to lock the doors and secure the windows.

• If you look in your rear-view mirror and notice the driver in the car behind look suspicious, do not stop. Go to a Safe Haven, a crowded place preferably where there are police or security personnel.

• If this happens at night in a deserted road do not stop and continue driving until you find a safe haven.

• If you get a flat tire at night or in an isolated area, do not stop and drive until you find a crowded service station. It’s better to suffer car damage rather than risk being assaulted.

• Carjacking is only possible if the vehicle has stopped. A carjacker would never attempt to approach a moving vehicle. Therefore do not stop unless you are required to.


WHILE DRIVING

Driving • At night do not stop to help anyone whose car has broken down. This may seem inhuman, but you should not take chances. • Call the police or a tow truck and tell them the location of the stranded driver. Do not waste an opportunity to help, but do not stop.

• Remember that clever criminals use women and children to lay ambushes.

• When you enter your vehicle start the engine and drive away immediately. Once you’re on the go you can carefully adjust, seat-belts, rear-view mirrors and radio.

• The bad guys don’t want unpleasant surprises so they choose easy targets. The longer you remain in one place the greater the chance of becoming a victim.

• Tinted windows are recommended because they may inhibit the criminal’s planning stage.

• If you think you’re being followed by another vehicle, do not alter your driving, just go to a safe haven (police station, hospital or crowded place where there is CCTV and security personnel)


WHILE DRIVING

Driving • Before you go into your driveway remember to avoid “tunnel vision,” observe the street, places where people could hide, trees and hedges. If you notice someone suspicious do not stop. • AVOID ROUTINES, vary your routes everyday. If possible vary your departure and arrival times.

• Do not neglect the vehicle maintenance. Keep tires, headlights, electrical system, locks, engine, battery, etc. in good working condition this would avoid breakdowns that may require you to stop in undesired places.

• If a vehicle breakdown occurs never the less try to fix the problem as quickly as possible otherwise seek immediate assistance from a friend or colleague. Keep a tow truck company among your emergency contacts. A cell phone is an extremely useful tool in any emergency

•Stay away from the car while you wait for help.

• Be mindful of common scams used to get you to get out of the car: spilling corrosive acid on the windshield; fender benders; rocks aimed at the car and others.


If a carjacker approaches proceed in the following manner:

Stay calm and ask the carjacker to stay calm:

Maintain your cool then ask the carjacker to do the same. Make the carjacker feel he is in control of the situation. A fearful carjacker can react in unpredictable ways.

Obey quickly:

Comply with the carjacker’s request and carry the request smoothly, but diligently

Tell the carjacker what you’re going to do:

Keep your hands where the carjacker can see them (on the steering wheel). If you need to reach an object, unfasten your seatbelt or open the door, inform the carjacker and make careful movements. Remember that the carjacker is nervous.

When the carjacker orders you out of the card, do it the right way:See how to in the next slide

CARJACKING


CARJACKING

WRONG WAY

RIGHT WAY


TRAFFIC LIGHTS

► When you stop at a traffic light try to keep the car on the right lane, as thieves tend to attack from the drivers side on the center island.

►If possible stay in the middle lane, this way avoiding both the center island and the sidewalk.

►Regulate your speed so that you approach the junction just in time for the traffic light to turn green.

► Remain vigilant at all times.

Remember that an idle car is an easy target


TRAFFIC LIGHTS

Stopped at a Traffic Light

•Avoid buying things at traffic lights. Even if the street seller is not a thief you’ll have to roll down the window and exposed yourself.

• Clear thieves use children to prepare the assault. The approach your car to ask for money or sell thinks. If they see valuable objects inside the car, they stick a piece of gum to the side of the car and on the next traffic light the thieves attacks the marked cars, knowing there is opportunity for easy pickings.

• If you stop at a traffic light, keep the vehicle in drive gear, always ready to keep going.

• Keep a reasonable distance between your car and the one in front. At a prudent distance you can se the back bumper and tires of the car in front of yours.

• Always place briefcases, laptop bags etc., in the trunk of the car and cell phones and other small electronics in the glove compartment.


HIGH RISK

MEDIUM RISK

LOW RISK

Click on the link to see

explanation

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Next Slide


RISK AREAS AT TRAFFIC LIGTHS

PREVIOUS SLIDE

► In general the center lane is preferred since the criminal usually launches his attack from the sidewalk or the island.

►Try to maintain prudent distance from the vehicle in front of you, enough that you can see the rear bumper and tires. This way you can exit the place quickly without making risky maneuvers.

► If the suspects targets you for a carjacking the first row of cars from the traffic light are the highest risk since the carjacker would must likely run the red light and leave the scene quickly.

►If the suspects intends to steal value objects from the car while you’re distracted the last rows would carry medium risk, since the thief can escape using the surrounding cars as cover.


ELEVATORS

•The elevator is an isolated place and does not offer many alternatives to get away.

• If the elevator arrives on your floor and the person inside looks suspicious, do not get simply tell the person that you’re waiting for someone else.

• When in doubt always decide on the side of caution and based on your best interest. Trust your instincts.

• Beware of things that are out of the ordinary, like a person wearing a heavy coat in warn weather; a person wearing a motorcycle helmet or a ski-mask.


ATM

• Try to use only ATMs in crowded places like supermarkets, and malls

• Anticipate how much cash you would need and plan and get it well in advance

• Never accept help from at an ATM.

• Be mindful of official looking stickers on the ATM surface that aim to deceive you into revelling information over the phone.

• If you suspect your card has been illegally retained at an ATM, call your bank to report it immediately. It would prevent crooks from usurping it


SHOPPING

While Shopping

• Be observant of people you come across more than once; this is not common in a crowd place

• If you notice suspicious activity, take evasive action (e.g. men enter a lingerie store; women enter a fishing shop. If the suspect follows suit or lingers outside the he’s in the process of selecting the victim

• If this happens look for store security staff and explain the situation. Ask for security escort to your vehicle

• Assume this posture and the suspect will know you’re not an easy target


SHOPPING

• Avoid carrying excess credit cards, checks, or cash. Plan your shopping in advance, decide how you want to pay and leave home with just the necessary.

• Do not expose your wallet’s content to people around you including the cashier

• The shopping malls are ideal places for criminals to choose their victims, they would follow you to vehicle and wait for the right opportunity to attack.

While Shopping


CRIME SCENARIOS 1 & 2

Scenario # 1 The assailant attacks the victim. Generally on the street or parking area.

Scenario # 2 The assailant attacks and attempts to take the victim to another place, generally a deserted or isolated from the crowds.

Women are more likely to be taken to a second place as described in scenario # 2.


Whether to go with the criminal or not is an extremely personal decision and one that is difficult to make. It is important to reflect that:

Of women (in the US) taken away from the original crime scene are rape and/or killed (according to statistics)

Experts recommend making a firm yet conscious decision “not to go”. If you’re going to get shot, it is preferable to be in the parking lot or on the street. If this were to happen in a disserted place the possibility of getting medical assistance or survival are slim to none.

The assailant’s reflects may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol which would render him more aggressive and alter his intentions.

CRIME SCENE 1 & 2


React in the following way:

1. If the criminal has a knife, run and scream to call the attention of as many people as possible. It’s almost guaranteed the assailant would flee to avoid exposing himself to capture.

2. If the assailant has a gun your chances are much less. In this case don’t run or scream, since he would try to silence you with a bullet.

If you make the firm decision NOT TO GO with the assailant than react, otherwise he would attempt to take you by force.

CRIME SCENE 1 & 2


3. Strategic reaction:

If you have something on your hands drop it to the ground (example: your car keys).

This would instinctively distract the assailant’s attention for a few milliseconds.

At that point, attack him on his weakest spot: the eyes. Nobody has muscle resistance on the eyes. Attack with your nails with the intention to momentarily blind him.

After being hit in the eye the assailant would tend to nurse his wound. This is your opportunity to run away and find refuge and protection as quickly as possible. Do not attempt to recover money or valuable objects. Use the time to flee the crime scene.

CRIME SCENE 1 & 2


CRIME SCENE 1 & 2

4. Peaceful reaction

• Reacting peacefully may be an alternative if you decide not to go with the assailant.

• The reaction could be to simulate fainting. At that point the assailant may decide to flee or may try to pick you up and take you away.

• If the assailant tries to pick you up, you could adopt an aggressive and decisive posture. In cases like this knowing self-defence techniques is critical.


DURING THE ASSAULT1. Stay calm.

2. Ask the assailant to remain calm.

3. Make the assailant feel he controls the situation.

4. Never resist to a robbery, hand over the objects the assailant ask for. Avoid carrying valuable objects, large sums of money, important documents that are important to you. This will prevent the psychological tendency to resist the assault.

5. Do not transmit anger or desire to seek vengeance.

6. There is no human physical force that can overpower a fire arm.

7. An assailant under the influence of drugs or alcohol has altered reflexes. For this reason make slow and careful moves.


8. Never provoke situations that make the assailant feel he’s loosing control of the situation.

9. Try not to react to physical aggressions against you or accompanying friends and family.

10. Remember: the main objective is to survive the assault. Assaulted people that walk away from the ordeal will live to see another day.

DURING THE ASSAULT


VALUE LIFE

1. Be concern about preventing the assault: take precautions, assume a security posture.

2. Ignore provocations in transit/roadways, bars or nightclubs. This is a sign of intelligence instead of weakness.

3. During an assault give up valuable objects. There is nothing more valuable than your life.

4. Avoid situations that can expose you to risks.

This is useful information that can save your life. Do not keep them to yourself.

Spread the word!!

Personal Security In High Risk Areas

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