Fine-Tuning Your Survival Signal Awareness

It’s true that you can deter a potentially dangerous situation by just being aware and conscious of your surroundings.  Try to read between the lines.  I’ve actually practiced this a few times.  I find that if you’re confident, aware, focused, use appropriate eye contact, and don’t show any fear, you’re ten times more likely to avoid being targeted as a victim or get caught up in something uncertain. 

There are many books available that talk about how to use your survival signals to help protect us from violence.  I wanted to share some highlights that I found interesting.  I can’t express enough that we need to pay attention to that “inner voice” alerting you to something that doesn’t appear or feel right.  Of course, this isn’t always a potentially dangerous situation.  It can be an uncomfortable or a high stress situation.   

There are many messengers of intuition that are worth your attention.  Stop and acknowledge them, think about what’s behind these feelings.

Fear

Apprehension

Suspicion

Doubt

Gut feelings

Hunches

Curiosity

Anxiety

Wonder

Persistent thoughts

Nagging feelings

According to the book The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker, there are seven survival signals we need to be aware of when placed in uncertain, new, or potentially dangerous situations.  Learn to look between the actions and pay close attention to your intuitions when confronted.

Forced Teaming

This technique is an effective way to manipulate a situation of premature trust, such as “we’re in the same boat”.  The detectable signal of “forced teaming” is the projection of a shared experience.

Charm & Niceness

Think of charm, such as rapport, is having a motive.  Now the difference between “charm” and “charming”, it can be a bit deceiving.  Look behind the person’s charm.  Most of the time it will be harmless, but other times there can be a manipulation beneath it.   

Too Many Details

It has been studied that when someone wants to deceive you, they give you too many details.  Commonly, when people are telling the truth, they don’t feel a need for extra details of a situation.

Typecasting

This involves a slight insult to warrant an easy refute.  For example, a man stops a woman and says to her “You’re probably too snobbish to talk to me”, hoping to get a rebuttal response.  A potential rapist or mugger to avert your attention from the situation could use this technique. 

Loan Sharking

This is classic example of someone using this technique that you owe them something, which makes it difficult to ask them to leave you alone.  Criminals use this technique as the kindly stranger.  Be aware and read between the intentions.

Unsolicited Promise

This is one of the most reliable signals where a stranger makes a promise and most likely has a questionable motive.  Take a good look at the situation. 

 Discounting the Word “No” 

This is a fairly self-explanatory technique to observe.  If someone doesn’t take “no” for answer, there is most likely another motivation.  

 * * *

Blog: www.authorjenniferchase.com/
Website: www.jenniferchase.vpweb.com/
Crime Watch Blog: www.emilystonecrimewatch.wordpress.com/
Book & Crime Talk: www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase/
Books: Compulsion = Dead Game = Silent Partner = Screenwriting

Emily Stone’s Crime Watch Tip — (Personal Safety)

Emily Stone has some interesting ways that she fights back against crime and injustice in Compulsion and Dead Game.  She has been known to fight with punches and kicks, but she also has an uncanny ability to infer subtle clues in order to track child pedophiles and killers.

What are victim’s options when suddenly confronted or threatened by a criminal predator? 

Interestingly, there are guidelines that the FBI suggests if you are confronted in a crime situation along with a couple of other options that I’d like to share.  I think Emily has exhibited all but one of these guidelines. 

1.                  Posturing

If you show that you’re confident and would be a possible tough target, predators will generally wait for an easier target.  Be aware of your surroundings and know where you are going.  Never look unsure about your next move. This can be a signal to a predator.  Stand up straight and look ahead and subtly around you.  Confidence can carry you a long way to safety. 

2.                  Outsmarting

Sometimes it may be possible to verbally diffuse a situation and maneuver yourself to an escape route.  This requires a cool head and the ability to surmise a situation.  This may not be the best technique for everyone, but it definitely has its place in some situations.   

3.                  Fleeing

This technique falls under our primal reaction to danger as the “fight or flight” mechanism.  It may seem obvious that you should run away from danger, but it might not be possible under certain conditions.

4.                  Surrendering

This technique may be implemented if you see an opportunity to escape at a later moment or fight.

5.                  Fighting

This has been referred to as “stun and run”.  Basically you fight with everything you have in order to escape the situation. 

It’s not always easy to know what you’re going to do in any given situation, but you should be vigilante, aware, and confident.

Blog: www.authorjenniferchase.com/
Website: www.jenniferchase.vpweb.com/
Crime Watch Blog: www.emilystonecrimewatch.wordpress.com/
Book & Crime Talk: www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase/
Books: Compulsion = Dead Game = Silent Partner = Screenwriting

Emily Stone’s Crime Watch Tip — (Children/Internet)

 

There are both positive and negative benefits for children using the Internet.  The online world can offer children an experience that is both educational and rewarding, which can lead to a higher school performance and increase their future job potential.  Unfortunately, there is pornography and child predators lurking out there in the online world too.

Parents and guardians need to be vigilant about keeping children safe when they are using the Internet for browsing the Web, sending and receiving email, and using chat rooms.

Emily suggests a few things that parents and guardians can do to help ensure child safety on the Internet. 

1.                  Become an Advocate:

Contact your local Internet Service Provider if you see any material (visual or written) or other practices that you don’t like that is made available to children on the Internet.  Be proactive in what children are viewing and don’t be afraid to voice your concerns and opinions. 

2.                  Stay Informed:

Keep yourself informed about parental control tools that can help to keep your child safe on the Internet.  Be sure to know what the parental tools can and can’t do.  Find out what children are learning and viewing through community and school Web sites.

3.                  Get Involved:

Spend time with your children when they are on the computer, whether it’s at home, the library, or any other computer center in your community.  Take the time to play fun and educational games with your children. It’s important to be involved in your child’s online life and include them in your own online practices.  This will be the best insurance for your child’s safety. 

4.                  Learn about the Internet:

Learn everything you can about the Internet.  If you’re a novice or a more skilled computer user, take advantage of learning more about the Internet at your local library, community center, or local training classes.

* * *

The bottom line is that the Internet has many positive aspects in learning, job training, and social networking.  There are just a few things to be aware of so that your children can be safe and enjoy the online experience.

 

Blog: www.authorjenniferchase.com/
Website: www.jenniferchase.vpweb.com/
Crime Watch Blog: www.emilystonecrimewatch.wordpress.com/
Book & Crime Talk: www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase/
Books: Compulsion = Dead Game = Silent Partner = Screenwriting

Emily Stone’s Crime Watch Tip – (Identity Theft)

Identity theft crime occurs when any individual acquires a piece of personal information without your knowledge and uses it to commit fraud at your expense.  Identity theft crimes affected almost 10 million victims in 2008, which is an increase of 22% from the previous year.  It has been estimated that 71% of fraud occurs within a week of stealing a victim’s personal information. 

We are a society that takes advantage of the high-tech convenience of using the Internet for purchases, banking, loans, and social networking.  With this convenience also comes a price for personal security, but there are simple safeguards that you can use everyday. 

There are three common types of personal information that identity thieves look for to commit their fraudulent crimes that can ultimately ruin your credit. 

1. Credit Cards
2. Phone or Utilities                 
3. Banking and Depository Account

The most common type of identity theft is credit card fraud that accounts for approximately 26% of all identity theft crimes.  The identity thief opens a new credit card account in the victim’s name and uses the credit card for purchases or cash without ever paying the bill.  The victim doesn’t realize that there’s a problem because the bills are sent to a new address.  It is also common for the identity thief to call the credit card company to change the mailing address on the existing account.  Again, the victim doesn’t realize that there’s a problem until it’s too late.  

The second most common type of identity theft, which accounts for more than half the number of victims of credit card theft or approximately 18%, is for phones or utilities.  The identity thief signs up for cell phone service, telephone long distance service, or new utilities using the victim’s name. 

The third most common category of identity theft, which accounts for more than a third of the number of victims of credit card theft or approximately 17%, involves banking and depository accounts.  The identity thief opens a new bank account, makes electronic fund transfers, or writes bad checks all on the victim’s accounts.  Loan fraud accounts for a small portion of depository accounts or approximately 5%, but is still an important category to list and to be aware of the potential risks.    

Here are Emily’s top ten guidelines for keeping your identity safe: 

1.      Check your credit reports annually.  If at all possible, check your credit reports monthly or quarterly.

2.      Issue a fraud alert with each major reporting agency: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

3.      If you purchase anything online, make certain that the website is encrypted and shows a small padlock icon at the bottom right-hand corner of your computer screen.

4.      If you purchase anything online for a gift, make certain that the bill will not be sent along with the gift containing personal identification and credit card numbers.

5.      Don’t toss any personal documents into the trash.  Buy a shredder at your local office supply store and shred all of your documents, mail, or anything that would have your name, address, or other personal information on it.

6.      Cut up all of your expired credit cards before discarding them into the trash.

7.      If you expect a bill and it doesn’t arrive, notify the issuing company immediately.

8.      If your credit card is lost or stolen, notify the police immediately to file a report and contact your credit card company.

9.      Don’t leave your mail in the mailbox for the mail carrier to pick up.  Always post your mail directly at the Post Office.

10.  Never give out personal information online or to phone solicitors, such as your social security number or passwords. 

 

Blog: www.authorjenniferchase.com/
Website: www.jenniferchase.vpweb.com/
Crime Watch Blog: www.emilystonecrimewatch.wordpress.com/
Book & Crime Talk: www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase/
Books: Compulsion = Dead Game = Silent Partner = Screenwriting

Emily Stone’s Crime Watch Tip 23 – Neighborhood Watch

One of the most common questions that Emily receives is about neighborhood watch. Many people want to know how to start one. This is a great question. I think many will be surprised how easy and fun it is to start a neighborhood watch.

First, check out a great website about getting started. It will give you an overview and some things to think about. www.USAOnWatch.org

• Determine the area you want to organize (the larger the better).
• Talk to surrounding neighbors and find out how many want to assist and participate (8-10 households is a good number).
• Set up a free neighborhood watch website to coordinate your efforts.

Here are five basic steps to get you started and motivated:

1. Contact your local police/sheriff’s department to schedule speakers for your neighborhood watch group. Make sure you pick a location to accommodate your group and presentation (grange, hall, school, etc.).
2. Invite your neighbors. Get a name, phone number, and email list. Send out flyers about two to three weeks before your presentation meeting and then follow up with a “reminder” a couple of days before.
3. Prepare a neighborhood map. This map should have the houses, names, and phone numbers of each household.
4. Benefits of the presentation. You will learn how to develop a plan of action, crime prevention techniques, personal safety, how to report suspicious activity, meet your neighbors and develop a strong communication network, order neighborhood watch signs, and recruit your coordinator and block captains.
5. Maintaining your neighborhood watch plan. Keep your plan on track with meetings, neighborhood outings, and a monthly newsletter, website or blog.

Jennifer Chase
Award Winning Author & Criminologist

Blog: www.authorjenniferchase.blogspot.com
Website: www.jenniferchase.vpweb.com
Crime Watch: www.emilystonecrimewatch.blogspot.com
Book & Crime Talk: www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase

Emily’s Crime Watch – Tip #14 (Stalking)

In my novels Compulsion and Dead Game, Emily Stone relentlessly searches down the bad guys. You could say that she is stalking them in order to bring them to justice.

But what does stalking really mean?

The definition of stalking is the act of following prey stealthily.

Stalking is caused by a chronic obsessive personality. Anyone can become a victim or a stalker. It has been estimated that one out of every twelve women will be a victim of a stalker at some point in their lives.

What happens when someone is stalking another person? There are stalking laws in place for this type of unwanted attention.

The California Stalking Law Penal Code Section 646.9 is one of the strongest stalking laws in the country. No Longer should victims of stalking be turned away by law enforcement and told, “come back when he actually hurts you.” From 1991 through 1993, stalking was a misdemeanor punishable by only one year in county jail when no restraining order was in place. Under the current law, a first-time stalker can be sentenced to a felony charge and sentenced to State Prison for up to three years. If a court or restraining order is in effect, the stalker can be sentenced up to four years in prison or if he has previously been convicted of felony stalking or other related crimes, he could face up to five years in prison.

I’ve had first hand experience of being stalked by someone and it was a life altering experience for me. Some of you may already know that I lived next door to a violent sociopath for 2 ½ years that threatened my life weekly, sometimes daily. The good news is that I turned that unfortunate situation into a positive one by using my experience, or inspiration for lack of a better description, in my fictional writing and that’s how Compulsion came to life. The bad news was that I had to move and this person continued to stalk me at work and even found my new residence. Everything finally worked out. I’m safe now and this person went to jail for a crime of aggravated assault on someone he knew, but unfortunately he’s out free again.

I wanted to share some stalker warning signs.

Stalkers usually have two or more of these personality traits:

1. Impulsive

2. Obsessive

3. Selfish

4. Won’t take “NO” for an answer.

5. Has few friends.

6. Low self-esteem.

In my situation, this person was also highly intelligent, clever, had violent tendencies, had one or two so-called friends that would follow his orders, and he felt that everyone had “wronged” him in some way.

The best approach to stop a stalker is to nip it in the bud, but this isn’t always the simplest approach.

What you can do to STOP the stalker:

1. NEVER let the stalker know that he’s having any effect on you. I know this doesn’t sound easy, but it’s important.

2. Make sure you have a Caller ID on your phone.

3. If you’re being harassed by phone, make sure that it’s connected to a recorder to gather evidence. Get a second line (unlisted) for your trusted friends or use a cell phone.

4. Have friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers help to shield you.

5. Get a camera cell phone (most cell phones have this feature now) and document everything and every encounter with this person.

6. Change your schedule to make it more difficult to follow you.

7. Drive around the block a couple of times before returning home. If you are being followed or threatened drive straight to a police station. Never confront this person alone.

8. Plan an escape route in case your stalker enters your home, follows you on foot, or follows you in the car. It’s important to plan out what you would do in an escape and don’t let anxiety and fear cloud your judgment.

9. Find out all your options with restraining orders. Talk to your local police department and file a report. Law enforcement is there to help us. From my own personal experience, the police were helpful and supportive of my situation.

10. Contact an attorney or your local police department for more information.

Be safe and alert at ALL times. Don’t feel like you have to suffer through this alone. Tell friends, family, and law enforcement. You’re not alone!

Jennifer Chase
Author & Criminologist

Emily’s Crime Watch – Tip #5

Emily Stone has some interesting ways that she fights back against crime and injustice in my novel Compulsion. She has been known to fight with punches and kicks, but she also has an uncanny ability to infer subtle clues in order to track down child pedophiles and killers.

What are victim’s options when suddenly confronted or threatened by a criminal predator?

Interestingly, there are guidelines that the FBI suggests if you are confronted in a crime situation along with a couple of other options that I’d like to share. Emily has exhibited all but one of these guidelines.

1. Posturing :If you show that you’re confident and would be a possible tough target, predators will generally wait for an easier target. Be aware of your surroundings and know where you are going. Never look unsure about your next move. This can be a signal to a would be predator. Stand up straight and look ahead and subtly around you. Confidence can carry you a long way to safety.

2. Outsmarting: Sometimes it may be possible to verbally diffuse a situation and maneuver yourself to an escape route. This requires a cool head and the ability to surmise a situation. This may not be the best technique for everyone, but it definitely has its place in some situations.

3. Fleeing: This technique falls under our primal reaction to danger as the “fight or flight” mechanism. It may seem obvious that you should run away from danger, but it might not be possible under certain conditions. Always look for an escape.

4. Surrendering: This technique may be implemented if you see an opportunity to escape at a later moment or fight.

5. Fighting: This has been referred to as “stun and run”. Basically you fight with everything you have in order to escape the situation.

It’s not always easy to anticipate what you would do in any situation, but you should be vigilant, aware, and confident in your daily activities. Emily wants everyone to be safe.

Take the thriller challenge and see if you can spot which technique Emily didn’t do in “Compulsion“.

I would love to hear from you.