South African life is composed of a mixture of highs and lows, and regrettably armed robberies have become the norm.
There are various forms of robbery affecting suburbia – high-speed robberies in the driveways, shopping centre attacks and the much-feared home invasion.
“While the modus operandi is slightly different in each attack, certain survival principles are applicable,” said Jason Mordecai, chief executive officer at 7Arrows Security.
There are a number of instances where street-wise citizens have successfully fought back and beaten their attackers. However, in most cases, the odds are firmly stacked against the victim and a different set of survival skills are required.
Read Personal safety tips
The first step is an instant reorganisation of priorities. The survivor’s job is not to fight back, or to help the police to catch the bad guys; the first priority is to get back to your family safely. Every step you take must be engineered to achieve this goal.
These steps can help you in a dangerous situation:
- Movements must be steady and deliberate; consider that the attackers may be nervous and sudden movements may alarm them
- It is important that the attacker understands that you are not a threat and are willing to comply with his demands, which will also mean surrendering your valuables
- Your body language is also important in this respect. Avoid eye contact and carry yourself in a non-threatening way.
- Consider teaching your children a keyword that tells them that this is a dangerous situation and they must follow your commands. This is especially valuable in a shopping centre incident where you need to keep the family together and under your control
- It has often been said that you should attempt to observe your attacker’s features; however, this can often escalate a situation.
- Remember your primary goal.
- Set yourself up so that you can call for help once the suspects have left
- Ensure that there are panic buttons spread around the house, including in the bathrooms. Notify responders immediately so that a smart device that has been stolen can be tracked.
- A panic button kept in the car and that can be activated from the driveway is also a useful tool, as phones are most often taken.
- Lastly it is important to try to prevent yourself from becoming a victim. Prevent yourself and your home from becoming a vulnerable target by assessing security within your home and residential areas. Always remain aware of your surroundings and make sure you don’t leave any opportunities for criminals to gain easy access into your house.
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