Count The Mistakes

In training, I've been instructed to analyze news segments about citizens victimized by criminals. Even though all the details obviously won't be told, there are lessons to be learned from the mistakes these victims made that contributed to their victimization.

Recently, this story appeared on the local news.

A man is robbed in his own driveway. What can we learn from his unfortunate experience?

Mistake # 1: The man noticed a suspicious car tailing him and ignored it. Don't ignore warning signs. We (still) have instincts for a reason.

Mistake # 2: He knew he was being followed and went home anyway. If tailed in a car, do not go home. Instead, head for a busy, well-lit area. Even at midnight, there are lights, activity, and surveillance cameras at Wal-Mart.*

Mistake # 3: Between the contents of his wallet and his going home, the escaped Bad Guys know where he lives. They can return at their leisure to clean out the household valuables. Depending on what was in the wallet and how resourceful they are, they might try a little identity theft on the side. An argument can be made for having a "throw-down wallet" with a few dollars, a couple of those fake credit cards that come in junk mail, and other worthless decoy materials. The robbers probably won't hang around to inspect the contents.

And the biggest mistake of all? Thinking it's okay to bumble through life in Condition White because nothing bad will ever happen in your "upscale neighborhood." As the pickings get slimmer in so-called "bad" areas, more and more criminals will figure out where they need to go to find the good stuff.

Anyone care to speculate whether the wake-up call will lead this man or his neighbors to learn how to be harder targets?

Some might take exception with the lack of gun-related recommendations above. If I'm in my car, I have a whole bunch of options available on the list before I get down to "present your weapon." That's held in reserve if every last effort to Avoid, Disengage, Evade, and Escape fail.

* The same rules apply if you're on foot. Watch your surroundings. If followed, cross the street, go into a business, take some kind of evasive action. Don't get herded into a slaughter pen.