As the Summit County Prosecutor, I am responsible for the prosecution of thousands of criminals every year. Because we live in a society where crime continues to occur, we must do everything possible to minimize our chances of becoming the next crime victim. While the victim is never to blame for the criminal’s act, there are specific ways to reduce our chances of becoming the next crime victim.
Criminals look for persons they feel will be “EASY TARGETS.” Criminals do not want to get caught and they do not want to target someone who will make things difficult for them. Criminals will often watch different individuals to determine who is not paying attention and who is most likely to be surprised by their actions. Criminals are looking to take the victim by surprise because if the victim is surprised, the criminal is much more likely to be successful.
Specific Ways to Minimize Your Chances of Being Targeted by a Criminal:
- Always pay attention and make it obvious that you are paying attention. Watch for cars that drive past you several times or people who walk past you and turn around. If you think you are being followed, do not ignore that instinct. Return to the store for an escort if you have just left a store or go to the nearest public place for safety.
- Always walk with your head looking to the left, to the right, and behind you even if you are with another person. Practice this way of walking and do it regularly, even if you are walking in a public place in broad daylight. You may feel silly walking this way and you may appear to be paranoid since you are looking around so much. But think about this: A criminal is looking to steal a purse and he sees two different women. One woman is walking with her head down and not paying attention. The other woman is looking around the entire time she is walking. Who is the criminal going to steal the purse from? Of course, he will choose the woman who is looking down and will be surprised. He won’t choose the woman who is looking all around and will see him coming.
- Pay just as much attention during the daylight as you would during the night. Most of us tend to be concerned and pay attention when we are walking alone at night but are not concerned and pay less attention when walking alone during the day. Many crimes are committed in public places in broad daylight. Criminals will often target their victims during the day because there are so many people to choose from who are not paying attention.
If you have any questions, suggestions for future topics, or belong to a group who would be interested in hearing a crime safety presentation from Prosecutor Walsh, please call or write to:
Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh
Summit County Prosecutor’s Office
53 University Avenue
Akron, OH 44308
(330)643-2800
Printed with permission of FOCUS Magazine.
