Outdoor Safety
Spotting Danger

Outdoor Safety: the sooner you spot danger - the better.

The first victim was walking along the street when the man approached her and punched her in the face. He then shoved the dazed victim into the back seat of his car, police said. She escaped when an area resident intervened… The assailant was delayed just long enough for the victim to regain consciousness and escape by rolling down a window and climbing from the car. ... The second victim was waiting at a bus stop when the man approached her and put a gun to her chest. He put his arm around her shoulders as if he knew her and began to "nonchalantly" guide her toward his car. The intended victim did not cooperate, first falling to the ground like dead weight, then kicking at the suspect and finally running away. The man returned to his car and fled. ... In both cases, police said, the man stalked the intended victims before the abduction attempts. In the first case, the victim turned the corner and he had parked his car as if it were disabled. He then punched her in the jaw as she walked by. In the second case, he parked his car and then pretended he was waiting for the bus before threatening her with a handgun.
Excerpted from The Oakland Tribune (CA) – 21 April 2004

Kelly McCann, former U.S. Marine Corps Special Forces officer now of Crucible Security in Virginia, says outdoor safety means watching for:
• A change in behavior as you come near the person.
• A hidden, immobile hand as the person walks. It’s not natural.
• Attempts to match your movement: You stop, they stop; you turn, they turn.
• Attempts to “bait” you to provoke a response: “What did you say?” “What are you looking at?”
• Flanking: One person intercepts you, and another follows from another direction.

To enhance your oudoor safety, watch for distant people as they come near. Many criminals "telegraph" their intentions, such as crossing the street to intercept you, and quickly looking about for any witnesses. Watch for groups that split up to encircle you. Run toward safety while yelling for the police.

When a criminal reaches for a gun, it usually looks like he's reaching for his wallet with one hand – either from his back pants pocket, rear waistband, or the inside front of his jacket. If the gun is tucked into his front waistband, he'll probably use two hands – one to lift his loose shirt that's been hiding the gun, the other to grab the gun. In any event for outdoor safety, by the time he gets the gun into position to fire, you can be already running away in full stride toward outdoor safety.

Beyond extremely close range (0-3 feet is "point-blank range" and 3-9 feet is "close range"), handguns are very difficult to shoot accurately. According to Sanford Strong, retired San Diego police SWAT team instructor and author of “Strong on Defense,” police officers miss with 75 percent of close-range shots while criminals miss with 96 percent of close-range shots. And a moving target is even more difficult to hit.

Besides, according to J.J. Bittenbinder, Chicago police detective and author of “Tough Target,” U.S. Department of Justice statistics show there’s only a 12 percent chance that a robber will call attention to himself by firing a gun in a populated area (at any range) and only a 3 percent chance of hitting you fatally. Finally, think about it: if he's willing to kill you on the spot, he's likely to do worse as he kills you more slowly in a secluded spot of his choice.

However, knives are more easily hidden, more quickly drawn, and have no “loudness deterrent” because they are silent. Still, throw down your wallet as you run toward outdoor safety. For complete details, see Victim’s Options - Overview, Kidnapping and Kidnap Survival. Also see Pepper Spray, Devices, and Weapons.

If you’re a victim or an eyewitness:
• During the crime, if possible, observe characteristics that are least subject to change. A suspect can discard clothing and modify hair. Try to look closely at features such as the lips, eyes, nose, teeth, and gait.
• Write down a description of the suspect before you’re interviewed by police to help solidify your thoughts and make you less vulnerable to suggestion. This can help prevent memory distortion during the investigation.
• Insist on open-ended questions from police interviewers. Don’t allow the use of visual aids like photographs or software catalogs of facial components if you’re questioned for a composite sketch.
• Consider tape-recording your interviews with police personnel. You want to ensure that your thoughts are not inadvertently misconstrued, misparaphrased, or overly abbreviated. Compare the tape to written police reports, which you have the right to obtain.
Excerpted from The Memory Artist by Jeanne Boylan, police sketch artist and FBI consultant. The Oprah Magazine – July 2003

See After Being Attacked – Immediately Call the Police in Fighting.

Kelly McCann also describes outdoor safety warning signs if terrorists target a public place:
• Seeing a person return several times a day.
• Unusual videotaping or note-taking.
• Asking excessive questions.
• Watch for anyone leaving a possible bomb – a package, briefcase, or vehicle – near a possible target, such as an important building or crowds of people.

What to do if you see something suspicious for outdoor safety:
• Take action. Quickly move away for outdoor safety.
• Remember descriptions. Height, weight, dress, hairstyle, color, license numbers, identifiable marks, etc.
• Don’t get involved other than to notify the police – immediately.

Pepper Spray & a Noisemaker visibly ready will greatly enhance your first option – Posturing as a tough target – and probably deter a predator immediately. Your fifth option – Fighting – is enhanced as well.

For convenience, learn self-defense ONLINE:

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Find Outdoor Safety for parking lots, city streets, suburban byways, country roads, and secluded paths by going to:
• Outdoor Safety - Overview
• Friendly Predators first try to get near you to isolate and trap you, then attack you. Never forget that and you’ll never fall for a stranger’s lure.
• Force Predators: ambush zones revealed.
• Predator’s Favorite Targets: how not to be one.
• Spotting Danger (YOU’RE NOW ON THIS PAGE) ahead of time, and sensing if someone is about to draw a weapon - and what to do before it's too late.
• Facing Danger: if you're already targeted in a robbery, purse snatching, rape or kidnapping attack, choose among the five outdoor safety options: Posturing, Fleeing, Outsmarting, Surrendering, or Fighting.
• Rescuing a Victim Safely: how best to be a hero.
• Dog Attack: facing an attack on you or a loved one.
• Pickpockets: stopping masterful thieves from stealing you blind.
• Recap of this section.
• Pepper Spray & Devices for Outdoor Safety.

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