How often do you find yourself fumbling with your purse, talking on the cellphone or carrying yourself with a less than amazing posture on the street? What you don’t know is that you may be unwittingly giving off signals as an easy target to predators. This article will teach you how to avoid being a victim and hopefully stay safe.

According to the studies, criminals don’t choose their victims randomly – they examine nonverbal signals such as posture, body language, pace of walking, length of stride and awareness of environment before deciding on the potential victim. Researchers Betty Grayson and Morris I. Stein showed convicted criminals (incarcerated for robbery, rape and murder) a videotape of pedestrians and asked them to identify which ones they would target. Within seconds, the convicts identified potential victims – and they did so with a surprising consensus.

Criminals don’t discriminate against race, color, age or gender. Some petite, physically slight women were not chosen as potential victims, while some large men were. They seek out signs of weakness, someone they can easily control: downward gaze, shuffling of the feet, unawareness of the environment. Sexual predators in particular look for those they can easily overpower, someone who isn’t paying attention, who looks like they aren’t going to put up a fight. People often think that women who dress provocatively draw attention & put themselves at risk of sexual assault, but it’s women with passive, submissive personalities that are more likely to be raped – and they usually wear body-concealing clothing such as high necklines, long pants and sleeves, and multiple layers. A lot of people think that staying on the cell phone while walking makes them safer – they can call for help at any moment. But criminals disagree: they view it as a sign of distraction and are more likely to target.

So how do you stay safe? You need to make it difficult for them, and project an image of a non-victim.

  • Be alert
    Look at your surroundings, notice people around you. Make brief eye contact with people but don’t stare. Don’t look scared. Don’t look drunk. Stay off your cell phone.
  • Walk with purpose
    Look like you know where you’re going and how to get there. If you have to stop and ask for directions, ask a store clerk or a restaurant employee. Don’t stop people on the street.
  • Don’t let people stop you
    If someone tries to ask you something, keep moving. Never follow strangers.
  • Don’t flash money/jewelry
    Some robbers will hang out inside stores and business establishments to spot victims carrying a lot of cash. Dress down when visiting entertainment districts – particularly those in high-crime areas – and be sure to park in an attended garage.
  • When approaching your car
    Always carry your keys in your hand – digging for keys at your car is a sign of distraction. In addition, a sharp key can be used as a self-defense weapon (a friend of mine who teaches self-defense taught me that). And of course, be sure to check the passenger seat before you get in.
  • If walking along cannot be avoided
    Always tell someone of your exact route and your estimated time of arrival – that way, if something happens to you, the police know exactly where to look. Stay in well-lit areas when walking after dark.
  • If you live alone
    Get a dog – criminals steer clear of houses with dogs because even a small one makes too much noise! Also – don’t laugh – putting a pair of old construction boots on the porch (or something the indicates a presence of a physically fit manly-type of a guy) deters rapists and burglars. Stay safe!

Deerlings: what precautions, if any, do you take?