Aggressive Defensive Solutions

Dusted off and updated last year’s Christmas message. The outside dangers have not changed much and if it helps one of our friends then its worth it.

Happy Holidays to all of our friends, colleagues and cohorts! We at AggDefSol would like to express our joy over this wonderful season and offer you some reminders as “gifts” to help ensure a safe and enjoyable season.

 As I’m sure everyone knows the shopping is in full swing and as Christmas draws nearer we will all become a little more harried, stressed and complacent. Don’t let this happen to you! Just as the predators in the animal kingdom recognize the many opportunities to make a kill that occur during the great migrations and calving seasons, so do the two-legged predators in our society look forward to this time of year. Each Holiday shopping season brings new chances for the lesser predators; shoplifters, purse snatchers, scam artists and petty thieves, to do what they do best; perform crimes of opportunity. At this same time the upper tier hunters; burglars, rapists and robbers; also gear up for what are comparatively easy picking versus the rest of the year. So how do we navigate the malls, shopping centers, parking lots and ATMs with any degree of safety you may ask? Pretty easily actually, if you just do a few simple things.

Be aware! As anyone who has taken one of our classes will tell, “Look like a Predator and the other predators will leave you alone.” Keep your eyes open, your head up and your mind on your immediate environment. Scan the parking lot before you walk out into the dark. Notice who and what is around you. Criminals do not want to be recognized, remembered or confronted. Be conspicuous about looking around and at people.

 Have a plan. Have your keys ready before you get to the car. Don’t juggle your bags, set them down and get the car open. Know what you intend to do if you are confronted. If you were being aware you would have seen it coming and been ready. That should take care of the top-tier critters and some of the smaller hyenas as well.

 To deal with most of criminal activity during this time of year follow these easy rules:

1. Lock your car/ house doors/windows.
2. Do not leave anything valuable in plain sight in your car. Lock it in the trunk!
3. Put your wallet in your pocket/ purse/ European shoulder bag before you walk away from the cash register.
4. Do not walk to your car while talking/ texting on your phone/smartphone/laptop/iWhatever. Now there is merit to having your phone ready to call for help or talking to loved one as you walk to your car, but remember use your phone as a tool for your protection, keep your head on a swivel while walking in parking lots. Let potential perpetrators know you are watching them and they will more likely slink back in the shadows.

 Obviously, we at AggDefSol are proponents of first person protective devices from quality manufacturers in the right caliber. Just remember that your safety and the consequences of your actions are your responsibility.

Feel free to comment with your own safety tips.

 Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukah! Joyous Yuletide! And Happy New Year!

Be Safe, Ric.