STREET CRIME

Street Crime is referred to as the Crime that happens on the Street of any Community.

Naturally, the “Street” is considered as “No Man’s” land, “Every man for himself”. It’s best if you are equipped with information on how to escape such situations unhurt. And better, if you have Personal Security Alarm like a Screamer or Pepper Spray.

Street Crime can happen anywhere – even on one of the quietest blocks in town. This is to tell you that no one is immune to one form of attack or the other, how you handle the situation is up to you. One fact is that you can be attacked where or when you least expect. It’s just best if you do not have the “Startle factor”.

The “Startle Factor”- this is when an individual is lost in thought and suddenly when chaos erupts, he is expected to run or do something – he freezes. This is usually the case when you are caught unawares and turns out you are in the line of fire and you feel confused.

One of such dangerous situation is when a street crime suddenly happens, you are left vulnerable. All you have at that moment is your wit. You need to quickly think on your two feet and strategize and avoid being attacked.

Here are however, some tricks to get you along before help comes:

1. Posturing:        Present 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 predator’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.

SPOTTING DANGER

When you hear footstep behind you

Humans tend to subconsciously spot danger, even when we try to ignore them. How we end up after spotting it is what truly matters. However, things we see around us and we ignore might turn out to be what saves us.

SIGNS FOR SPOTTING DANGER:

I have heard people say danger lurks at every corner, here are some signs you just might need to be conscious of:

• Matches your moves: You could be walking and you hear or notice footsteps match yours. The footsteps stops and goes when you do, then you should be aware that you are being followed.
• When you decide to face the danger and he challenges you, by asking you questions like, “what you are looking at, what did you say, why did you stop”. Then you should know he is about to get violent.
• One thing you should note is that, no one with a weapon makes it visible for you to know you would be attacked. When you notice something bulging and his hands are not visible for you to see be wise and stay on the alert.
• When two people approach you from different direction and you seem to be in the middle with no way of escape, then, you should find a way to move from that position cause you could easily be abducted that way with no witness to see what happens to you.
• That’s why it is advisable that you do not get distracted while on the road. When you notice a group of people walking towards you and they suddenly split that should be a cause for suspicion or someone crosses the road and suddenly intercepts you.
• Watch out when someone walks towards you and he reaches for something in his pocket.

Due to the frequent attacks by terrorists, we tend to see things and think they do not mean anything. However, there are ways you know when a terrorist targets a location which is usually a public place.

SPOTTING SOMEONE WHO IS NOT MEANT TO BE IN A LOCATION (TERRORISTS).

• When you notice someone taking notes or photographing a location. I know you would say what if, they were researchers? Well, researchers usually have documents giving them permission to research a particular place or the other.
• When someone keeps pestering you for information without genuine reason.
• When someone comes in with packages and leaves it behind. They usually target public places and then leave their packages or bag behind.

If you notice the above, its better you notify the Police and in some cases other Security Personnel. But before you do that,

• Ensure you move away from the place the package was left.
• Remember descriptions either of plate numbers, type of car, description of the individual and what he/ she said to you “if” he did.

Outsmarting the Smart

A Victim’s Strategy

Predators use selective honesty and partial truths, play dumb, and get victims to “play with the cards he deals.” However, the reverse is true as well. You can be selectively honest, play dumb, and refuse to play with his cards. Mix truth and lies together.

NOT A VICTIM BUT A SURVIVOR

Usually, before a criminal takes any step, he assesses his environment especially the victim. He at times asks questions likes, “do you have a match, cigarette or a piece of gum, do you know the directions to wherever?” to be on a safe side, just say “NO”. While I am not saying anyone who is nice to you is up to no good, you just need to be cautious; while answering his questions, make momentary eye contact. Never show how scared or vulnerable you might be.

• Keep an air of aloofness. Keep him in your peripheral vision while perhaps sticking your hand ominously into a pocket, waistband, or lapel and leaving it there – as though you have a weapon readied. If he calls your bluff by escalating to robbery anyway, tell him you’ll slowly hand him your money.  Then slowly hand him your money, and instantly flee to safety.

I want you to know this, a criminal’s “conversation” is a test. Tough targets tend not to be selected as a victim. It doesn’t matter if you’re considered rude.

• I once heard someone say, it’s better if you see that you are about to lose it, do not let him come near. Take an aggressive stance, raise a hand in a “Stop!” gesture, and fiercely tell him to “Stop!” If he persists, you’ll have more chance to flee before he gets near.
• Most times, what leads to attacks from an unknown person is misconception on his part. This might lead him to attack you. Someone once told me that to free yourself; you need to treat your “victimizer” with respect. If you treat him with respect, it might be harder for him to personalize and attack you.
  Rather than argue and dictate your wishes to him – ask him what he wants. Not that you’ll necessarily grant his wishes, but you may discover a compromise or solution. Of course, never trust his promises.
• Appeal to his pride. Act like you expect him to behave honorably.
• You’d even be surprised that some of this people are religious, redeem yourself by praying out loud.

I once noticed someone following me on my way to church and the next action that came to mind was, I took my phone and acted like I was speaking to someone while looking round and shouting, “where are you, you can see me, well, I can see you too. You are right behind me” I said this, while keeping a safe distance. “I will meet you now” After saying this, I made sure I was behind him instead of vice versa.

You can do best by fleeing. surrendering, or fighting. YOU CHOOSE

RESCUE THIS VICTIM

Try to help the victims by studying the situation before you act.

Everyone wants to be a hero or wants to know one. That is not to say you have to stick your neck out for trouble. When it comes to heroism, there’s a fine line between bravery and folly.

 

For those trying to avoid danger, well, there is usually danger everywhere, even if you decide to stay indoors, that does not mean you’re safe. Mind you, how you handle it determines if you will come out unharmed or not.

However, there’s need for you to know how to keep safe and keep others around you safe as well.

This morning, we’ll be looking at keeping safe Outdoor. Outdoor safety includes knowing how to rescue yourself or a crime victim most effectively and safely.

Imagine a circumstance where you’d have someone being harmed and you go in to help, if you are not well equipped to fight them off, you might live to regret your decision. What should you do if you witness a crime with a victim in danger? Your rushing to the rescue may save the victim – or may instead get you killed, and which may escalate the victim’s danger as well.

A less risky and possibly more effective strategy in a populated area is to make lots of noise from a safe distance and yell repeatedly for someone to call the cops while pointing at the crime scene.

If you’re in your car, blow the horn and flash the lights. MAYBE ram into the car of a kidnapper (at a very slow speed) to prevent him from leaving with the victim. Otherwise, keep the kidnapper in sight for as long as possible and get a good description. In this situation, getting a good description include, the color of the car, the make, the plate number, if there are any association logo or tags, if you get a good view of the attacker, try to check for his physical features which includes the color of skin, height, color of the eyes, any physical abnormality, or marks. However, if the criminal is fleeing without a victim – let him get away since you are equipped with information you would need later to nab him, just call the police. Let them deal with the danger of capturing a criminal.

 

 

Best Baby Sitter……………….Child Safety Tips

Child Safety Tips include stranger danger, molesters, kidnapping, bullying, school violence, Internet safety, and personal safety devices.

If every child could tell when he/ she is a target and knew the simple lifesaving skills. When they knew enough to defy an adult (stranger) and escape, none would be victims.

Personal Safety Devices

• Global Positioning System (GPS) Child Locator: A child tracking device. Most people think safety is a game of chance, but a GPS child locator device (child tracking device) can stack the odds in your favor. A variety of models are available. I highly recommend these if used with the utmost parental discretion.
• Personal Security Alarm: a.k.a. screamer or noisemaker. An attacker won’t likely chase a noisy target.
• You can pin a wireless transmitter to your little ones to monitor their whereabouts in crowds or in your yard. Older kids can develop the simple habit of wearing a child locator on their belts while they’re outdoors.

A child tracking device alerts you if your child wanders away beyond a distance you choose. A variety of models are available. I highly recommend these if used with the utmost parental discretion.

A clip-on child tracking device can be put in a backpack or sewn in a child’s clothing, but they do NOT substitute for watching your kids and do not prevent kidnappings or guarantee recovery afterward. And they have limitations: batteries die out and weather can obstruct GPS signals. Nevertheless, they’re a great modern supplement to all-around good parenting.

(A GPS Child Locator can also be useful for older folks with Alzheimer’s.)

Crime Safety and Security for Women and Children – Everything You Need to Know

You know there is evil out there, but you never dream it will ever touch you and yours. If it does, it is a lifetime of hell on earth.”

THE HUNTER AND THE PREY: Outdoor Safety Tips for Women

Remembering the way my grandfather used to talk gently to the goats he reared back then, cajoling the unfortunate one before it is butchered and used during those festive periods. Like a hunter lurking in places just to surprise their prey before attacking. The look and the sincerity with which he lures and cajoles its prey with its favorite meal and the curiosity with which the goat itself comes out of hiding to meet its doom; that is the exact way Criminals think up tricks just to get helpless victims.

Outdoor safety means knowing that “friendly predators” use charm and hard-luck scams to get near you but you have means of escaping from their grasp.

You are naturally friendly, welcoming, trusting, gullible, and naive attitude toward seemingly harmless strangers; this makes you an easy target. Best you could do for yourself is to be polite but still warily skeptical.

Well, there are two different types of predators, a force predator – will suddenly attack you from the open or from ambush. But a friendly predator will first try to lure you into a trap… then attack you.

A FRIENDLY PREDATOR’S LURES

A friendly predator may be good-looking, well dressed, charming, and seem harmless. He/she may have a uniform; he/she may hold a baby in his/her arms and have a gun in his/her pocket.

The lures usually catch you by surprise and trap you in the blink of an eye. From clumsy to clever, all lures boil down to one simple warning sign: he’s trying to get near you or isolate you.

• Lures Offering Help:

Lures include a mugger helping you with a flat tire on your parked car (that he’d flattened) to a serial rapist following a woman from a store to her car with a five-dollar bill he said she’d dropped. If she opened her window, he had her.

• Lures Asking for Help:

Don’t give directions. Just say, “Sorry, I don’t know.” Or keep a safe distance (at least six feet) from any stranger and don’t turn your back to them while pointing out directions. Many crimes begin with initially non-threatening conversation. For outdoor safety, especially beware of any physical interaction, like stepping close to look at his map or paper with an address, etc. Stay at least six feet away.

Some people would say, they could detect a criminal from afar, that’s not true because you could end up a victim of an innocent- looking individual and the other could be the case. The point is that you should not be too sure about your radar (intuition). It’s better to err on the side of caution by playing it safe.

To enhance your option for outdoor safety, its advisable that you deter a predator by carrying a personal security alarm (screamer or noisemaker) & pepper spray in plain sight.

CAN’T DO WITHOUT THAT SMARTPHONE?

Have you ever had that feeling where you feel like you are vulnerable, like something or someone can easily get at you?

Well, with the advent and development of technology, every Tom, Dick and Harry is handling one or more smart phones. Yeah, you are happy to have a lot of information at your finger tips right? Just as easy as it is for you to have those information, likewise is every other Criminal happy to log into your cyber space and make demands from friends and families on your behalf.

Strangely, you would find that to some, their smartphone is more precious than their wallet, likewise you, it is more important than your keys and in some cases, your actual computer when it comes to sensitive information – but we all have that nagging guilt that we don’t do enough to protect our devices beyond perhaps having a four digit pass code.

However if you love to remain safe, we are here to help with some top-level tips to help make your phone more secure, protecting all those important messages and images that you do not want falling into the wrong hands. If you’re looking to keep your phone safe from international spies, or snooping networks, if you’re just the average smartphone user who wants to be a little safer, follow some of our tips below:

1. Update your software

Whether you are running iOS, Android or Windows Phone we will always advise you to update to the latest version of the OS available. This can be a little difficult with Android updates often taking a little while to go through manufacturer and network testing, but is well worth it and also because a lot of security loopholes will have been closed.

2. Use a secure lock screen

It seems almost nonsensical these days and age not to have a basic password on your lock screen, even if it is a basic one. One of the first things we’d suggest is to navigate into your device’s security settings and enable a pass lock. There are obvious benefits to having even a basic lock. Pattern unlocks and pins are some of the most secured but if you can handle the hassle we’d always suggest a full alphanumeric password. Also ensure that boxes that say “make passwords visible” are also not ticked.

If you want to take it one step further then we’d also recommend changing your pass code regularly in case someone spots what you’ve typed in over your shoulder.

3. Install antivirus software

One of the biggest threats that could see data leaked is the less-than-humble virus. The problem isn’t as widespread as on desktop computers. If you’re really worried, check out the manufacturer’s website as most will come with a link to their mobile app.

4. Disable apps from untrusted sources.

Whilst it can often be a nice idea to download and install apps that aren’t found on the App Store or Google Play Store, these apps tend to be the ones that are less secured. Google, Apple and Microsoft, as well as the likes of BlackBerry, keep tabs on the apps that are on their app portals.

This means apps that contain malicious code are likely to have been removed before you install them. Make sure you’re certain that you know what you want when altering your handset.

5. Use lock code apps and vaults

One thing that can be particularly important for protecting vital messages and pictures is to add a second layer of security. If you’ve got a pass code that somehow manages to get into the wrong hands then all your data could potentially be at risk.

With another app you can then add another layer of security by protecting apps with a second code. Vault apps also allow you to be safe by storing all the files that you want to secure within a dedicated area of your device or on an SD card, as well as being able to wipe the data after unsuccessful log in attempts.

With several mobiles stolen every day, the risk of things getting out is extremely high.

I WILL BE CAREFUL

You would not want to be caught unaware…….. would you?

BRINGING YOU NEWS ON SECURITY AND YOU

Okay, so the other day knowing the way our traffic is in Nigeria, a friend left home as early as possible on Monday morning, only for her to call to say she was attacked while she trekked to her workplace after alighting from the bus she boarded. She stated that her bag was collected which had her new phone, her purse with her ‘little makeup kit for work’.

You should avoid walking alone

These sort of attack has become so frequent, another was a lady who worked in a prominent Organization, she was attacked and killed; this time by a neighbor. Seeing all these, I think its time we (especially women) stand up and fight. Fortunately, Women are considered to be weak; this is where they have an edge. In a Society where women do not take self- defense tactics which could help them survive a delicate situation, self- defense…

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I WILL BE CAREFUL

Okay, so the other day knowing the way our traffic is in Nigeria, a friend left home as early as possible on Monday morning, only for her to call to say she was attacked while she trekked to her workplace after alighting from the bus she boarded. She stated that her bag was collected which had her new phone, her purse with her ‘little makeup kit for work’.

You should avoid walking alone

These sort of attack has become so frequent, another was a lady who worked in a prominent Organization, she was attacked and killed; this time by a neighbor. Seeing all these, I think its time we (especially women) stand up and fight. Fortunately, Women are considered to be weak; this is where they have an edge. In a Society where women do not take self- defense tactics which could help them survive a delicate situation, self- defense should be taken seriously and taught in schools and organizations.

However, these are Primary precautions to be taken:

• When walking, be aware of those around you. If someone has been following you for quite a while, be suspicious.
• Avoid walking with large bags, backpacks or luggage. These items can be a target for pickpockets and thieves. Additionally, fumbling with bags can also distract you from traffic.
• If walking in the evening hours, try not to walk alone. Take a friend along.
• Keep your purse, wallet, keys, or other valuables with you at all time or locked in a drawer or closet.
• Check the identity of any stranger who might be in your office. If anyone makes you uncomfortable, inform security or management immediately.
• Don’t stay late if you’ll be alone in the office. Create a buddy system for walking to parking lots or public transportation after hours, or ask a security guard to escort you.
• Report any broken or flickering lights, dimly lit corridors, broken windows, and doors that don’t lock properly.
• If you notice signs of potential violence in a fellow employee, report this to the appropriate person. Immediately report any incidents of sexual harassment.
• Know your company’s emergency plan. If your company does not have such a plan, volunteer to help develop one.
• If the company does not supply an emergency kit, keep your own emergency supplies (flashlight, walking shoes, water bottle, nonperishable food, etc.) in a desk drawer.
• If you work at home, in addition to making your home safe and secure, you should hang window treatments that obstruct the view into your office. You don’t want to advertise your expensive office equipment.
• Review your insurance policy—almost all policies require an extra rider to cover a home office.
• Mark your equipment with identification numbers, and keep an updated inventory list (with photos, if possible) in a home safe or a bank safe-deposit box. It’s a good idea to keep backups of your work in a secure, separate location as well.
• Follow the same caution with deliveries and pickups that businesses do. Anyone making a delivery to your home office should be properly identified before you open the door. Do not let the person enter your home. If you own the company, take a hard look at your business—physical layout, employees, hiring practices, operating procedures, and special security risks. Assess the company’s vulnerability to all kinds of crime, from burglary to embezzlement. Follow basic crime prevention principles, and work with local law enforcement to protect your business.
• Visit www.corporatevigils.com or call 08135269876 for more info on our security services.
• Would you rather start the new business year with us? Call today on 08135269876 for security services that works.