If you live alone don’t tell people that.
Always say you have a roommate.
This prevents someone walking behind you from opening your handbag and taking your wallet/anything valuable.
Christian Ferrer
2.When youre in a bar/restaurant dont stick your phone (or wallet) on the table.
Normally what happens is that someone will momentarily cover it with e.g.
This happensall the timeand is very effective.
3.I use windows/reflections to check who is behind me.
If theyll take you for $5 now, theyll take you for more later.
6.Ear buds or head phones signal that youre not aware of your surroundings.
Staring at your phone indicates the same.
Make you an easy target.
7.Dont hug the walls, walk a bit towards the center especially near corners.
Keep your ears open, notice things.
Footsteps, shuffling, metal clanging, anything.
Basically be aware of your surroundings and anticipate critical situations.
8.Dont walk around staring at your phone after dark.
1: It lights up your face from a mile away like a dumb, distracted easy mark.
2: You arent at all aware of your surroundings, even if you believe you are.
Were nowhere near as good at multitasking as we assume.
9.My rule is Dont stop in the street for someone you dont know.
This includes people asking the time or directions.
It covers you for charity collectors and prevents you being mugged by distraction.
It doesnt matter how friendly they are, keep on moving.
No physical contact either (e.g.
Never use a cash machine (ATM) without being aware of your surroundings.
Both are things Ive learned after being mugged.
10.Never turn your back to someone who you dont trust or is aggressive.
YouTube is full of videos of people getting sucker punched from behind.
11.Dont ask random people for directions.
A random dude on 42nd St probably does not know how to get to The Apollo.
Youre better off going to a cop or a corner store to find out.
Or just use your phone if its on.
Dont drink from your drink if youve left it unattended.
12.Yelling fire will get more attention than yelling help.
Beware of unsolicited kindness or help from strangers.
People who carry guns often walk and posture a certain way.
Learn to identify this.
Dont be a hero.
14.For girls, make up a fake boyfriend to get creeps away.
If youre being followed, dont freeze up and just keep walking.
Go into the nearest fast food place or store.
Keep your eyes forward and dont look at people.
And hey, for the love of god, dont stop in the middle of the sidewalk.
15.Watch their left foot.
Most people are right handed.
If they inch their left foot closer to you they are setting up to take a swing.
Most mums dont hang outside with their kids if the street/area is unsafe.
17.Look like youll fight back.
18.Hotel lobbies are great places to use the restroom.
19.People make pickpockets livelihood so easy.
Always put valuables in an inside, preferably zipped pocket.
22.Walk like you know where you going.
If you look like an easy target, chances are folks around you are thinking the same thing.
Most bad areas are infested with poverty stricken people looking for an easy come up.
23.People always tell me this is kind of a morbid thing to do.
Trying to estimate their height and weight is impossible unless theyve recently had a checkup at the doctor.
It also eliminates the need to add a verbal update to an old picture.
heres a recent photo but she got a hair cut and new glasses after the photo was taken.)
24.Count every possible exit in any room you enter.
25.City Face: Dont look happy in a dense area on the street.
If you have something to be happy about, thats something someone wants.
Never take a drink that you havent seen poured.
confirm you are the one to take it from the bartender, dont let it be passed to you.
No bar wants to get a reputation for it being a place that is dangerous for women.
Keep you hand resting on top of the bag.
Take a photo of the license plate and/or taxi license of any taxi/ Uber/ Lyft car you get it.
Make it obvious that you are doing this.
Send it to a trusted friend or family member.
If someone is bothering you DO NOT BE NICE!!!!
This is my biggest tip.
If you say no thank you and keep moving right off the bat they will likely leave you alone.
Sometimes being rude is necessary to keep you from getting in harms way.
Your likelihood of dying goes WAY up if you are taken somewhere else.
27.If you have a hoodie, dont ever wear the hood.
If youre in a rich neighborhood, it attracts unwanted police attention.
28.Never break two laws at once.
Got something in your car thats illegal?
Better not be speeding, stop completely at red lights…ext.
29.Put your wallet sideways in your pocket so it gets stuck.
Sensible footwear, people.
31.Dont stand on the X.
You remember cartoons from when you were a kid with the coyote and the road runner?
The coyote would setup his falling anvil trap, box of dynamite, or whatever other trap.
He would always paint a big red X where the road runner should be when the trap springs.
When discussing this in terms of personal defense and safety.
It means dont paint an X on yourself.
Dont walk around at night with headphones in staring at your phone.
Dont walk down that dark alley with nobody there.
Dont flash money around in questionable areas.
Many scams and people work in teams.
Providing wrong directions to accomplices, working a scam, or generally trying to set the trap.
Avoid these situations with politeness yet leave.
32.Listen to that little voice inside your head.
Its smarter than you.
33.If you go to a concert/festival/public thing with your friends, make a meeting point if you get separated.
Pretend theres no signal.
We meet at this toilet or this flag or this tent.
34.Most people are right handed and watch a lot of movies.
35.Watch peoples faces and eyes.
Their next likely step will be to try and make a last-ditch effort to appeal to your guilt.
You think Im gonna do something to you?Do not fall for this!!
Anyone who postures like this against a stranger doesnothave your best interest in mind.
Can you break a hundred?
translates to Do you have at least a hundred dollars I can steal from you?
so the answer is always no.
37.If someone asks you what time it is they may actually be seeing how expensive your phone/watch looks.
They probably wont call the cops.
39.When approaching a red light/stop sign, dont pull up right behind them.
Leave room to maneuver your car, dont trap yourself in.
Lock your car doors and dont leave valuables in view whether youre driving or not.
Keep a hammer and sharp scissors/blade in your vehicle for breaking windows and slicing locked seatbelts.
Dont leave your phone unsecured in your vehicle.
If youre in an accident your stuff will scatter everywhere.
You will want to have access to your phone.
This goes for all valuables.
Dont tell anyone all weapons you might have on you.
Always have spares and always have variety.
Sew small, accessible, secure pockets inside jeans, bras, shoes.
Dont carry all your keys on one keychain.
Never give a valet all of your keys, just the car key.
Dont dilly dally around doors.
Get in, get out.
Double check that the door closes fully and locks behind you.
Dont keep all your anything in one place and dont leave anything in plain sight.
Dont leave your personal business/mail lying around in a public area of your home.
In a new town pick up a phone book from the Chamber of Commerce or wherever.
Know how to read maps, read cursive.
Dont start eating before the host.
Learn and implement table manners as well as good spelling and speech.
Have your form of payment prepared before you even walk into the store.
Avoid having your wallet out and open in public.
Know how to break into your own house.
If you cant afford an alarm system, set up booby traps.
Have a bug out bag.
If someone picks something up for you at the store, give him extra for his time.
Say like and thank you and always compliment a host on the home and meal.
Buy about 20 occasion cards to have at all times.
Some birthday, congratulations, get better, thank you, sympathy and blank.
Stamp the envelopes so theyre ready.
Turn off the TV.
Write down and memorize important addresses, numbers and accounts.
Dont rely on your cell phone.
Keep your home tidy and make your bed every day.
Floss and brush daily and avoid touching your eyes/nose/ears/mouth.
Nothing is off limits in a street fight.
Learn how to use quiet weapons.
Knife throwing is good.
You get to scope out the place, your friends think your clean.
Keep your opinions at home.
The moment you think you have to get out go.
Dont admit to drug use, medications, income or valuables.
Dont be nice to strangers.
If you live alone dont tell people that.
Always say you have a roommate.
Dont allow strangers into your home.
No one who knocks is up to any good.
Learn to control yourself and your emotions.
40.Perfect your I didnt see nothing, got nothing to do with me face.
Just act like you couldnt care less and arent interested.
This reassures others youre not going to run around the corner and call 911.
41.When traveling, always venture to act like youre a local.
Learn prices, learn routes, learn behaviors and when possible take a stab at copy their accent.
I do this all the time and its easier to haggle.
You also have less chances of being targeted by local thieves.
42.How you dress is probably the biggest factor I havent seen mentioned here much.
43.Carry a decoy wallet.
Stash just maybe a fiver and some coins in it.
If you get mugged, give them that.
Never leave anything in a hotel safe unless its an international chain that just puts a label on it.
45.If youre being robbed, dont fight back.
Youre life is worth more than your phone, your money in the wallet/purse and whatever else youre carrying.
Just obey to the demands and it will be over as quick as it begun.
Feel the urge to fight that guy giving you shit?
The best form of self defence is running away.
Theyre more than likely robbing people or other bikes.
Bike crime is incredible high in London right now.
They will mount the curb and they will snatch your belongings.
46.Carry an extra wallet with $50 in it and throw it if someone tries to rob you.
47.Dont fuck with people.
But dont be scared of people either.
50.I am a 60 something female who travels extensively alone for work.
I will cross the street, head for an open establishment, get away.
I saw a restaurant worker down the next block having a smoke so I yelled to him.
Hey I might need some help here and he ran down to stare the guy down.
I dont hesitate to ask a security guard to walk me to my car.
Dont be afraid to ask for help.
Be aware of your surroundings!
