We are all aware of crime on a daily basis, what happened, how it happened and who was targeted, but seldom if ever, do we hear how criminals act and how they think.
One self-defence company, Pretty Loaded, focuses on exactly that – “the predator mindset” and “how criminals operate so you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe”. They publicly provide a faceted approach to protecting yourself. To read more about them and click here.
A few tips on how to spot a potential criminal (Source: Pretty Loaded):
Do not judge on physical appearance or profession – a psychiatrist who worked in Super Max prisons with violent predators for 20 years says this about them …
• “They are like chameleons that blend into their surroundings, they look like they belong there. Some criminals are well-dressed, charming, good-looking and lead normal lives with normal jobs.”
• “Criminals typically commit crimes in areas where the person is close to people, but out of reach for immediate help – ATMs, parking lots, petrol stations, stairwells, public bathrooms, rest stops and sidewalks all should be considered potential danger areas – and some of the most common places they commit their crimes.”
• “Look at body language signals, for instance; a person who is staring at you and not blinking, or clenching their fists and jaw. These are very good clues as are squinting the eyes and frowning.”
• “Pay attention to criminals’ feet, since they are the most honest part of the body. If they say they are going to leave and their feet are still pointed at you then they are lying.”
• “Watch for hands in pockets or behind the back.”
Criminals sometimes give the false impression that they care about you. They do this by smiling and gazing at you intently.”
• “People who want to deceive you will often use too many details. When people tell the truth they don’t feel doubted so they don’t feel the need for additional support with more details. When people lie, it doesn’t sound credible to them, so they keep talking.”
• “Sometimes criminals help you and then you feel like you need to return the favour and help them. Remember that if a person approaches you and offers assistance, you didn’t ask for help, so don’t let them guilt you into ‘returning’ the favour.”
Some prisoners were questioned in prison and all their answers were pretty much the same:
• “They look for distracted or weak people – Do you look distracted and weak? Use strong eye contact and stare the person in the eyes. Remember that this sends a subconscious signal to the criminal that you are a fighter.”
• “Trust your instincts. When it comes to danger, paying attention to your ‘gut instincts’ or intuition is important for two reasons – your instinct is always in response to something very important that you should pay attention to.Your intuition always guides you toward what is in your best interest.”
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