How to Stay Safe While Walking in a Bad Neighborhood

Tips for Staying Safe on the Streets

By: Sirio Ibáñez López

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Some believe that unemployment, loss of savings and a generalized cash shortage, will cause an increase in crime and a subsequent loss of security on our streets.We will not know whether this is scare mongering or not, till we can look back retrospectively, but we must always look out for our personal safety. After all, we take steps to stay safe when traveling abroad and often we should take even greater care when moving around our own inner cities.
The following guidelines will help you to avoid crime and stay safe on the streets:

Know the Trouble Hot-Spots

Avoid street crime by staying away from places known to be dangerous. Certain neighborhoods are often surrounded by myth and gossip based on past events, out of date perceptions and general prejudices, such myths are never useful. What IS useful are local press reports, which are often very open about the problems that residents and businesses face. They are aimed at the local populace so they sincerely reflect the up sides, down sides, wishes and concerns of their readership.

Local media, police and council press releases, and neighborhood association statements can provide great info on trouble hot-spots, from slightly differing perspectives they often expose the reality of a situation. Social problems are never static, neither are the responses to them, we must take a constant interest in what is happening in our locality to stay in the know and up to date. Understanding is about balanced views and information is the key, you can never be over-informed.

Look Like a Bad Target

Don't ever consider yourself a victim or potential victim. Of course we are vulnerable to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune but it does not mean that we should expect it. People are not too different from canines, looking like a possible victim will only help an aggressor to select you as such. Carry yourself in a resolute and confident manner and you will put off most petty, opportunistic criminals.

Remember that the streets belong to law-abiding citizens like you. By claiming your ground and encouraging others to do the same you will marginalize the antisocial, sadly alienated few. Never show fear, just project confidence, civility and awareness. Walk around as though everything is fine, unless it really isn't and if so, get out of there ASAP.

Always consider crime an unfortunate and infrequent possibility that could happen to anyone. Someone who is the subject of a crime is not weak, it simply happens now and then. When it does, we have to accept it and do what we must to get safely out of there.

Be Ready

If you have to go into an area that you know to be in some way unsafe, take all the appropriate measures. Planning ahead helps with prevention prior to, and damage limitation during a crime. Measures can include limiting what somebody can take from you by for instance, not carrying credit cards or valuables. It is also good to have some token cash or item that you can hand over to diffuse the situation. Always be ready to de-escalate a situation.

Become the Gray Man

Enhance your street safety by avoiding shows of opulence in poor neighborhoods, because unless you are a gangster, cruising around and flashing symbols of wealth makes you a target. Such behavior causes resentment and may get you into a tight spot.

Blending in does not just mean leaving your sporty European car or Hummer at home, it means not being different. Wearing neutral clothes can help, as will behaving like other people and generally not highlighting differences.

Man's Best Friend

Own a dog. Having a mid-sized dog with you can have an enormous impression on people. Many people consider dogs to be potentially dangerous, and to some extent they are right. Many dogs feel the need to assert themselves, to bark a bit and when things get tense, to stand side by side with their owners (if not a few feet in front, pulling on the leash).

If you already have a dog, you could start to take it with you when you go shopping or run an errand, the dog will protect you and they love leaving the house. Obviously you must remember that there are limitations, like not leaving the dog in the car on hot days or when you expect to be away for a long time.

Overall though, dogs are flexible and an effective security measure. Taking yours along on some of your day to day running will save you dog walking time and make your canine friend happy. Just one thing, don't teach your dog to attack or be wary of people. That will make the dog dangerous and land you in trouble, leave their reactions to their instinct and sixth sense.

People Power

Stick with people; strength through numbers works. When you have to walk through a potentially unsafe area, try to make sure that you are near other pedestrians, and if you can walk with friends even better, avoid dark alleyways, lonely shortcuts etc. If you need to use public transport, sit near the driver or near to other passengers and when possible near a CCTV camera. Being around people will really contribute towards keeping you safe because people protect each other and criminals fear crowds, use it to your advantage whenever possible.

Self Defense Accessories

Increase your personal safety awareness by learning to use non-lethal, self defense weapons and alarms. Needless to say, great care must be taken in the use of non-lethal weaponry. Not only can it be used by mistake, but it can also be used wrongly, played with by children or turned on the bearer, and it is not inconceivable that its use may infuriate an attacker, potentially increasing the intensity of an aggression. Still, when used properly, some self defense gadgets can dissuade, confuse and at times, inhibit an attacker.

Consider what situation you could potentially encounter to ensure choosing the right tool. Consult a self defense expert and your local police department to get different opinions on what could work best for you (and what is legal in your state), then look for a self defense course designed to teach you how to use your chosen weapon or alarm. Never forget that the item in question is potentially dangerous for the bearer, so use it with due diligence and only when essential.

Self Defense Training

Attend self defense classes or take up a martial art. There are many benefits to be gained, including confidence, street competence and personal fitness. Like other personal safety measures, it is not a stand-alone resource. You must learn how to integrate it into your everyday life, creating a well-rounded approach to confronting potential problems.

There are classes for people who want to learn specific self defense techniques, military combat techniques and of course, martial arts. Which of these you choose is a matter of objectives and to some extent interests.

If you are purely interested in techniques developed for the kind of problems that you are likely to come across on a normal street, self defense classes are for you. They will be aimed at teaching you how to size up a situation and get out of it safely. A good self defense class will really build up your confidence, and that is something which will help you avoid (and deal with) trouble on the streets.

An All Round Street Safety Method

Keeping safe on our streets requires a similar approach to avoiding trouble in school. There are potential threats out there and no individual thing will keep you safe, you need to be safety conscious in all aspects. This does not mean that you need to be constantly paranoid, but you need to do need to be aware. Don't let your guard down when you go out for drinks or leave a party, staying aware will be the thing that will keep you safe, happy and relaxed.

Grub Street Writing and Translation: Leaving out the parts that people skip

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