I recieved an email from a lady whom shall remain anon, anin, amonr, well she didnt want me to say her name on the forum, she had been acosted on the street and was asked for money and various items, she was one of a party of three and yet she was singled out as the one to "attack" she wished to know why, I am not an expert on this, and please if there are retired or serving police officers out there reading this, correct me and for gods sake offer your advice as well, the reason, I think, she was singled out is that she had the "stance" of a "victim", that is she was nervous and unsure in her environment she "projected" weakness, when one walks down a street or crowded place, one should walk as if one "owns" the footpath, posture erect and commanding, dont slouch and dont daudle, dont carry a walking cane in a manner that makes one appear vulnerable, a cane can make a good weapon in some cases, dont carry a large purse for all to see, dont "show" your money in public, have 2 places, one in easy reach as spending with little in it, the other perhaps in a body wallett, walk erect, stand tall, own the footpath and the mugger may go on to a weaker victim

dave06 wrote:

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I recieved an email from a lady whom shall remain anon, anin, amonr, well she didnt want me to say her name on the forum, she had been acosted on the street and was asked for money and various items, she was one of a party of three and yet she was singled out as the one to "attack" she wished to know why, I am not an expert on this, and please if there are retired or serving police officers out there reading this, correct me and for gods sake offer your advice as well, the reason, I think, she was singled out is that she had the "stance" of a "victim", that is she was nervous and unsure in her environment she "projected" weakness, when one walks down a street or crowded place, one should walk as if one "owns" the footpath, posture erect and commanding, dont slouch and dont daudle, dont carry a walking cane in a manner that makes one appear vulnerable, a cane can make a good weapon in some cases, dont carry a large purse for all to see, dont "show" your money in public, have 2 places, one in easy reach as spending with little in it, the other perhaps in a body wallett, walk erect, stand tall, own the footpath and the mugger may go on to a weaker victim

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Dave, as somone who cannot for reasons of "National Security" tell you whom was my employer I can say you are quite close to the mark. We used to study body language quite extensivley.
These scum target people who do not project a "presence", now to clarify, Yanks have a presence, always being loud and at times we would suggest even "offensive". I'm not suggesting that we should all become loudmouth cricket ground yobos but the point is those who apear compacent are selected as victims be they male or female. It's not only the muggers and Arthur Daley types but the sleazier business people who especially in harder times will target those who appear weak to try and cheat you out of any thing they can.

I was once approached by a DH with knife and asked for my wallet . I burst out laughing and the would be attacker got the Sh@# and ask why I was laughing. My answer was "You must be joking if you think I have money I'm married" . To cut it short I then took his knife and throw it across the street and after handing out a bit of a slap around the ears left before the coppers arrived and charged be because I was still standing and the other bloke needed a week or so in ICU . Not worth the effort calling the coppers they are like us old blokes without Viagra, they always arrived late . As with Basil, my occupation with the ADF at the time ensured fittness levels and self defence abilities not many if any drug crazed drop outs could muster on there best day . I was lucky and got away with it but it's not an approach I would recommend to all. As they say it's not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog. My advice in a robbery situation , hand it over and stay alive , make all the observations to report it , you never no the coppers could get luck some day and actually catch charge the right one.

Another point I'd like to make here is to try and remain cognisant of your surroundings, make mental notes of who is where and what they are doing. As Hercule Poirot says.... "Keep the little grey cells active". You don't have to actually remember because "they haff vays off makingk you remember" but it never ceased to amaze me the number of people who even in a simple excercise would step over someone laying on the foot path and say a few yards further down the street that they had never seen the person laying there. As the TV ad says "BE ALERT, NOT ALARMED". Seriously we are all masters of our own destiny in some way and if we have a rough idea of what is going on around us we tend to live longer and we also tend to ward of dementia. How many of you can draw a clockface accuratley??? Hmmmmmmm.....Go on try it....