Personal safety, Help!

[sextus the crazy]

Carry something threatening on your person, like a knife and try to appear confident. Pretty much do everything in your power to look like a bad target.

No, no, no. Worst advice ever. Police catch you with a knife and you're fucked, they don't care if it's for show and you don't plan on stabbing anyone. Police find a knife on you and you can kiss management chances goodbye, they don't take that stuff lightly because of how bad knife crime is in some areas.

So... I'm going to guess that carrying knives around in the UK is a much worse crime than in the US. Good to know.

 

[Saltyk]

Well, all I can suggest is a few things. I am not familar with what your local law says about any of these things, so I will make several suggestions.

Park, if not close, within sight of your store. That way you can see if anyone is hanging around your car and can take measures to protect yourself. Like calling the police, if you deem it necessary.

If you are closing always ensure there is at least one other person closing with you. Closing is the worst shift for such things as crooks will know when you are leaving. Probably best not to buy a game to take home at this time, either. You don't want to have obvious valuables on you at this time.

If you can, buy a gun and get a concealed carry permit. This assumes you would be able to take it into your store, which you should check into first, and that your country even allows this. I know some people here will say that carrying a gun is a bad idea, but ignore them. If you can, this would probably be a good idea.

Failing the gun, due to laws, or unwillingness, pepper spray may be a valid alternative. It's nonlethal and generally effective enough to give you a chance to escape.

Finally, if nothing else, carry small amounts of money, avoid carrying credit or debit cards (at least in your wallet) and just give them your wallet and any money in it. Can also save you, if someone mugs you in to store during business hours. Sounds like a cowardly way out, but it may save your life. Immediately following any such event, call the police. Only problem I can see with this is that it could make your or your store employees a target for future muggings, being an easy mark.

Beyond that. Good luck. Hopefully, you never need to worry about any such things.

 

[Mr.BadExample]

Have you considered soiling yourself? The attacker will feel such revulsion that he'll flee into the night without harming you. Once you've trained yourself to vomit, defecate, and urinate on command you'll be untouchable.

 

[the doom cannon]

I would recommend not carrying any sort of weapon, do cardio, and carry a second wallet with a bit of cash in it. If you're in a bad spot with someone demanding money, toss the wallet at them, and proceed to run away

 

[xmbts]

Carry something threatening on your person, like a knife and try to appear confident. Pretty much do everything in your power to look like a bad target.

and then you end up looking like a rival gang member and gte riddled with bullets.

go for the other option, look poor as fuck.

no one robbs a homeless man, but mind that some like to kill them, though.

It's the UK, if he gets riddled with bullets then he's done a lot worse then look scary. xD

OT: My advice, park as close to the store as possible if you're working at night bring a flashlight and maybe some pepper spray.

 

[smithy_2045]

Don't exaggerate the dangers. It's all well and good to be aware of the possibilities, but the statistics will show that while it may be more dangerous than another area, you're still relatively safe unless you put yourself in high risk situations.

 

[Bluestorm83]

Muggers want: Money.
Muggers don't want: to work or get into trouble.

Based on those two rules of their behavior, if you don't make yourself look like a mark, they'll leave you alone. If you look like a hard target they'd pass you up in favor of robbing someone more vulnerable. Yeah, that's kinda a shit corollary, that if you're not getting robbed someone else is. But short of law enforcement and/or self defense that results in a dead mugger, there's nothing you can do about that.

Carry some legal weapon with you just incase, but most importantly is to just walk around like you own the place. If you look nervous, it signals that you have something to protect, AND aren't confident that you can protect it.

But seriously, if someone does decide to attack you, shoot/stab first. The life of a criminal is never worth protecting at the cost of the life of a victim.

 

[Bluestorm83]

Don't exaggerate the dangers. It's all well and good to be aware of the possibilities, but the statistics will show that while it may be more dangerous than another area, you're still relatively safe unless you put yourself in high risk situations.

"You're relatively safe" is no comfort to the 1 in 100 who DOES find themself in a dangerous situation. Someone's asking for advice for a worst case scenario. You don't ignore a future danger that "probably" won't happen. Because "Probably Won't" happens to someone every day.

 

[UniversalRonin]

Have you considered soiling yourself? The attacker will feel such revulsion that he'll flee into the night without harming you. Once you've trained yourself to vomit, defecate, and urinate on command you'll be untouchable.

This might possibly be the best advise on the thread. Mr BadExample, English doesn't have enough words to convey how much of a genius I think you are!

 

[Barbas]

Exercise regularly and lift weights to build up your biceps. Visit the police station and ask an experienced local officer what their best advice is for keeping safe, what local areas are the most dangerous, etc. Attend self-defence classes. Smile and be friendly and easy-going, always appear to be the reasonable one. Look out and listen out.

EDIT: Travel in a group of at least three people on nights out, if you can.

 

[smithy_2045]

Don't exaggerate the dangers. It's all well and good to be aware of the possibilities, but the statistics will show that while it may be more dangerous than another area, you're still relatively safe unless you put yourself in high risk situations.

"You're relatively safe" is no comfort to the 1 in 100 who DOES find themself in a dangerous situation. Someone's asking for advice for a worst case scenario. You don't ignore a future danger that "probably" won't happen. Because "Probably Won't" happens to someone every day.

If you're the 1 in 100, you give the robber(s) what they want (the 2 wallets/phones idea is a good one) and avoid escalating the situation. You don't try to be a hero and fight them off, because they almost certainly have less to lose than you. Money and phones are replaceable, your life is not.

 

[Pandaman1911]

Being in the UK kind of limits your options. Tasers are illegal, any form of concealed firearm is super illegal, pepper spray is illegal, carrying a knife is illegal, batons are illegal, brass knuckles are illegal... so yeah, unless you want to become a criminal yourself, there's not much you can do about things. Maybe get in better shape? I mean, I have no idea what shape you're in, but there's always room for improvement. Try and become a track star, or something. Gotta go fast.

-EDIT-
Oh my god, I'm so fucking stupid. Just get a Maglite! Three D-cell batteries encased in a solid steel barrel is one surefire way to make a lasting impression. Look to see if you can take some martial arts lessons anywhere in your area, or see if you can't get some training so you can know how to wield the damn thing.

Spoiler

Thwack.

 

[Da Orky Man]

Carry something threatening on your person, like a knife and try to appear confident. Pretty much do everything in your power to look like a bad target.

Very, very, very illegal here. Our (UK) weapon laws are very strict, even compared to our continental neighbours. Hell, under certain circumstances, a screwdriver can be classed as an offensive weapon.

OP: Best advice I can think of is to look serious. When walking through any area you consider a risky area, but a scowl on and walk with a brisk, serious pace. Muggers will look for someone who seems jumpy or nervous rather than someone who looks like they know what their doing.

 

[Weaver]

Just act confident. I live and work in the downtown core of a city with a huge crack problem and I've walked home at all hours of the night and I've been okay.

Also, learn the safe streets; that will help a lot.

 

[JoJo]

Carry something threatening on your person, like a knife...

Don't do this OP, no offence intended to Sextus but I see from his profile he is an American and so he wouldn't know that carrying a knife that is either longer than 3 inches and/or does not fold in public without a good reason is very illegal in the UK. Seriously, it's more trouble than it's worth and will probably only increase your chances of getting stabbed anyway, don't do it.

 

[Worgen]

Carry a fake wallet, a mugger probably isn't gonna stick around after they get it, just carry one that is full of enough stuff to look full so if anyone demands it you can just toss it and run.