STREET CRIME
Safety Tips for Women 
FAQ

This page will help you stack the odds more in your favor. It's far better to know this and not need it, than to need it and not know it. 

Unprepared victims are often paralyzed by the "startle factor." They're not paying attention while lost in their thoughts and freeze when danger suddenly appears. See stress-control-fear-itself. 

Whether to fight back (stun & run) or comply with a criminal depends on each unique situation and your intuition. Your five options to outsmart criminals are listed below.

A Woman Alone Is the Most Common Target

A woman’s 3 am stroll with her dog went bad when she was almost back to her front door and heard the gate behind her squeak open. A man was coming toward her. 

He punched her and threw her to the ground. He put his hands up her dress and tried to pull down her underwear, but she resisted and screamed as loud as she could. Luckily, neighbors came running and scared him off.

Your following five options go beyond sheer luck:

STREET CRIME OPTIONS

Along with "fight or flight” and surrender, I’ve added two more: outsmart and posture, and aligned them all with FBI guidelines (but clarified their clunky wording):

1. Posturing: presenting yourself as a tough target. If that doesn’t work:
2. Fleeing, the most obvious choice, might not be possible. If not:
3. Outsmarting: by talking your way out and maneuvering toward escape. If that doesn’t work:
4. Surrendering and hoping for a criminal's mercy to let you live; or preferably as a trick leading to a sudden escape, perhaps aided by:
5. Fighting like a mad dog for your escape. Stun & run.

The panicky chaos of a sudden threat forces you to choose an option in a split-second. Still, understanding your options now will help your Intuition choose an option then. And what if he's got a weapon? See Survival Options - Kidnapping. 

ENHANCING YOUR STREET CRIME OPTIONS

Deter a predator by carrying a Personal Security Alarm (screamer or noisemaker) & Pepper Spray in plain sight. Always have both of them attached to a wrist strap for instant availability. 

You are responsible for your safety. Criminals target easy prey. Make yourself a hard target.

See more safety tips for women at Purse Snatching FAQ.

Crime-Safety-Security > Outdoor Safety Overview > Street Crime

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