Do not be fooled. Do not be complacent. Surveillance cameras placed by your local government at strategic intervals ostensibly for the citizens safety and security i.e. decrease the incidence of crime in the surrounding area are but short term deterrents to criminals.
Your crime friendly neighborhood goons with guns in search of gold will either move their operations to areas where surveillance cameras are absent or mask their faces to avoid detection. Whoever says cameras will prevent crime has never yet been accosted by camera loving guys out to get their 15 minutes of fame.
Project Yourself
This is not to say that you should sashay down Main Avenue like it was your catwalk, for the benefit of the surveillance cameras. You have to project an image, an aura if you will, of being self confident and self aware.
Criminals are schooled in the art of body language. You will be less likely of a target when you appear self confident, walking with your head up and looking directly at people even when you are at a brisk pace. Even when you do not feel confident, try to look confident because criminals target the pussy looking sissies amidst us. Besides, you can identify faces, which is a definite improvement over identifying people by their sneakers!
However, do not be arrogant either. Your arrogance can bring you more trouble with the bad guys due to a clash of wills, not to mention egos. Better get on your wheels and drive off!
Projecting yourself is also about being very much aware of your surroundings. If possible, you can mimic surveillance cameras in the sense that they take in what is happening and who is causing it to happen. When you become observant, you take away the staple of crime the element of surprise.
Remember, when you do not look like a victim, you increase your chances of actually not becoming a victim.
Follow Your Gut Instinct
If you feel uneasy or uncomfortable in a certain place and with certain people, especially during late nights and when you are alone, follow your gut instincts. Do not put yourself in compromising situations where your physical safety might be at risk, never mind if it seems ridiculous at the moment. And remember, criminals can be well dressed, too!
For example, when going home late from the office, you find that the only person in the elevator is someone you are not acquainted with. If you feel queasy about the situation, regardless if the person seems to be the decent sort of chap, do not get on the elevator. Wait for the next one and if that person is still on it, go back to the office and call security. If your building has surveillance cameras, security people are in a better position to help you.
Be Prepared to React
Given all these, everybody can be a victim of crime. You have to be able to react quickly. If you can take self defense classes, then better for you especially when you have to defend yourself against physical attacks. However, being prepared to react also includes being simply prepared with your defense tools. Keep your pepper spray and mace at the ready; criminals will not give you timeout to retrieve them. ( Yes, please ma am. Do damage my eyes with pepper spray is a dialogue you will never hear in this lifetime)
These being said, it is always better to be safe than sorry, surveillance cameras in the streets and in the office notwithstanding.
![[Valid RSS feed]](/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
