# can You Really Reduce Your Chances of Being a Crime Victim? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799 "2015-07-21T17:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/1 "2015-07-21T17:35:51Z")
I would say that staying out of dangerous areas is most of it. Other than that, avoiding dark , badly lit areas at night, staying within groups of people, and not opening the door without verification are 90% of it. Is there a way to minimize your risk (to effectively zero)? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/2 "2015-07-21T18:30:25Z")
At the risk of breaking GQ rules - Stay in bed. Won’t be zero but if your bed is in Reykjavik, you will get pretty close. ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/3 "2015-07-21T18:32:53Z")
Depends on what you mean by “crime victim”. You seem to be restricting it to personal assault type crimes perpetrated by non-household members. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/4 "2015-07-21T18:39:04Z")
I would add not perpetrating crime, living a clean wholesome lifestyle. ---
**Author:** ![rosemaryj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@rosemaryj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rosemaryj)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/5 "2015-07-21T19:06:59Z")
No area is 100% safe, but some areas are less crime than others. However just using common sense even in low crime areas such as don’t flash money, be aware of surroundings. People seem to txt all the time and aren’t always paying attention to what or who might be around and that is what criminals might look for…an easy mark. ---
**Author:** ![Walton\_Firm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@Walton\_Firm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walton_Firm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/6 "2015-07-21T19:53:16Z")
Posture and other forms of non-verbal signaling are important too. If you walk around like you’re confident that you could handle the Devil himself if he were foolish enough to cross your path, even though you’re a pencilnecked weakling, criminals are likely to guess that you know something about yourself which they don’t, and go look for an easier victim. Whereas if you skulk around like you’re afraid of your own shadow, they know that you will probably be a pushover and an easy mark even if you may not have much to steal. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/7 "2015-07-21T20:11:28Z")
I wouldn’t be surprised if the crimes most people are likely to be victims of In the near are home burglary and cyber crimes. Staying out of bad areas isn’t going to help prevent those at all unless by bad areas you mean things like don’t do online banking. ---
**Author:** ![No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_umlaut_for_U)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/8 "2015-07-21T20:51:44Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/9 "2015-07-21T21:22:22Z")
Don’t get born into a violent or criminal family. Don’t marry someone violent or criminal. Sometimes that’s hard to avoid, though. Preneonates usually have poor character analysis skills. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/10 "2015-07-21T22:13:30Z")
Look up the lowest crime part of your city. Rent an apartment in a secure building, at least five floors up. Don’t own anything worth stealing. Don’t leave the house and don’t use the internet. Seriously though, there is a lot one can do. I’ve done a lot of travel in very rough countries, always by local transit and often alone. As a small blonde woman, I’m practically asking to be robbed. And yet I’ve only had one crime committed against me-- and I was using profoundly poor judgement at the time. My strategies: Don’t have anything worth stealing. Definitely don’t have anything visible worth stealing. Don’t dress like you have anything worth stealing, but do wear clean and neat clothing If you do have anything worth stealing in your hotel room, lock it up or hide it. Use a good money belt. Expect your pockets to be picked. Have an anonymous looking suitcase/backpack Keep your bag either touching you or locked to something and within eyesight always, especially on transport. Be conservative about where you go alone and at what times you are wandering around Don’t get publicly intoxicated and have a safe plan if you get intoxicated in any way. Keep an eye around you, pay attention. In sketchy places use shadows and shop windows to make sure you aren’t being followed If someone is being shady on the street, look directly at them, make it clear that you see them, and keep doing your thing If you are still being followed, duck into a public place (store, restaurant) and plan a safe exit Look for women. Places where local women walk alone are usually safer, no women is a warning sign. Read up on local scams, assume anyone approaching you unsolicited is trying to scam you If someone is trying to scam you, make it clear you are on to the game without outright saying it, and have good humor about it ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/11 "2015-07-21T22:15:44Z")
Also, look like you know where you are going. Don’t pull out a map or guidebook on the street. If you need to figure something out, do it in a cafe or other public place. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/12 "2015-07-21T22:24:56Z")
Keep half a billiard cue by the front door. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/13 "2015-07-22T12:40:45Z")
Some very good tips so far in this thread… For your parked car, don’t leave any visible items in it, even charging cables leading to a hidden place (under the seat, etc.). If you can’t avoid leaving items in the car, cover them up with a simple blanket or other cover. Again when parking your car, already have your valuables (laptop bag, etc.) stashed in your trunk before you arrive at your destination. Some thieves hang out at grocery stores to watch cars arrive, and when they see arriving occupants put such items in the trunk before going in to shop, they know they have 5-20 minutes to break in and steal the bag. They’ve watched you put the items in the trunk and they’ve seen if the items look desireable (nice leather bag, nice backpack, etc). This was (is?) a recent trend in San Francisco. When walking and if you ask for directions or help, not only must you be wise in choosing the person to ask, but also be aware of who is nearby and can observe your discussion. When walking, have your items hidden on you, or your bag / backpack securely attached to you and not held in your hand. Don’t make it easy for someone to grab it and sprint away. In general, don’t provide temptations to others. Don’t be the easy target. Let the next person be the easy target. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/14 "2015-07-22T12:50:55Z")
Another option is concealed carry of a gun. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/15 "2015-07-22T13:42:07Z")
There’s really 2 types of crime that I think people are worrying about. First, there are the crimes of opportunity. By that, I mean car burglars, muggers, rapists, robbers, etc… who choose certain people and places due to a perceived ease of accomplishing their crimes. These are the crimes that you can defend against by not looking like a victim, by staying in well lit areas, locking your doors and hiding any valuables in your car, etc… But then there are the more random violent crimes, like that woman in San Francisco who was shot at random, or school shootings, or terrorist attacks, etc… There isn’t much you can do about those, other than be aware of your surroundings, and fight back when you can, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/16 "2015-07-22T13:47:16Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > … > Don’t get publicly intoxicated and have a safe plan if you get intoxicated in any way. > … Not being drunk in public has been my main strategy for avoiding being a crime victim (been successful to date, knock wood, but as a middle class man in Germany where there are noticeable but no huge social disparities that’s all that’s really needed.) Being drunk gets you into quarrels that you’d easily avoid when sober, and makes you a target of opportunist small time muggers. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/17 "2015-07-22T15:09:16Z")
There’s a 1981 study by Grayson and Stein where they videotaped a bunch of random people walking down the street, and then showed the tape to criminals convicted of violent offenses and asked them to pick out ‘good’ victims. Their choices were surprisingly consistent, and weren’t what the researchers expected - the predators would sometimes pass over small women, or pick out big men. When they analysed the people on the tape, the researchers found that what made the difference between ‘victim’ and ‘non-victim’ was their gait. Basically, the ‘victims’ walked more awkwardly. From [here](http://www.protectivestrategies.com/victim-selection.html): > [@](#): > > Still at a loss of specific selection criteria, the researches had a more thorough analysis of the movement and body language of the people on the videotape. Here is an overview of the results: > > 1. > > ``` > Stride: > > ``` > > People selected as victims had an exaggerated stride: either abnormally short or long. They dragged, shuffled or lifted their feet unnaturally as they walked. Non-victims, on the other hand, tended to have a smooth, natural gate. They stepped in a heel-to-toe fashion. > > 1. > > ``` > Rate: > > ``` > > Victims tend to walk at a different rate than non-victims. Usually, they walk slower than the flow of pedestrian traffic. Their movement lacks a sense of deliberateness or purpose. However, an unnaturally rapid pace can project nervousness or fear. > > 1. > > ``` > Fluidity: > > ``` > > Researchers noted awkwardness in a victim’s body movement. Jerkiness, raising and lowering one’s center of gravity or wavering from side to side as they moved became apparent in the victims analyzed. This was contrasted with smoother, more coordinated movement of the non-victims. > > 1. > > ``` > Wholeness: > > ``` > > Victims lacked “wholeness” in their body movement. They swung their arms as if they were detached and independent from the rest of their body. Non-victims moved their body from their “center” as a coordinated whole implying strength, balance and confidence. > > 1. > > ``` > Posture and Gaze: > > ``` > > A slumped posture is indicative of weakness or submissiveness. A downward gaze implies preoccupation and being unaware of one’s surroundings. Also, someone reluctant to establish eye contact can be perceived as submissive. These traits imply an ideal target for a predator. So doing yoga or tai chi, or anything that makes you more physically coordinated, should lower your risk of being a crime victim. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/18 "2015-07-22T22:37:24Z")
Fascinating info, e w, thanks for that! ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/19 "2015-07-23T07:34:58Z")
> [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > There’s a 1981 study by Grayson and Stein where they videotaped a bunch of random people walking down the street, and then showed the tape to criminals convicted of violent offenses and asked them to pick out ‘good’ victims. Their choices were surprisingly consistent, and weren’t what the researchers expected - the predators would sometimes pass over small women, or pick out big men. > > When they analysed the people on the tape, the researchers found that what made the difference between ‘victim’ and ‘non-victim’ was their gait. Basically, the ‘victims’ walked more awkwardly. From [here](http://www.protectivestrategies.com/victim-selection.html): > > So doing yoga or tai chi, or anything that makes you more physically coordinated, should lower your risk of being a crime victim. I know from walking in places like Mexico City, that when I walk as if I know exactly where I am going, and especially if I acknowledge passerby (for instance, to shopkeepers, or to elderly people who usually appreciate a greeting), I am not bothered. I think the latter is especially important as anything that creates the impression “people around here know him/her, I can’t mess with this person like I can with a tourist.” But if I start fumbling about my pockets or I start thinking about work rather than paying attention to people around me, the street hustlers and panhandlers start to pop up. I think this is not just advice for staying safe, but also avoiding looking like an easy mark. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799/20 "2015-07-23T07:56:50Z")
A wealthy individual can pay for personal security by living in a gated community and by hiring/employing bodyguards. While it sounds trivial as well as cynical, a long-term strategy to avoid being the victim of a crime would be to acquire wealth. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-reduce-your-chances-of-being-a-crime-victim/725799.md?page=2)