The 12 Crimes of Christmas

While most of us are getting ready for Christmas, there are those lacking the holiday spirit. With the added stress of the holidays, the parties, and shopping online or in the mall, there is a lot more opportunity for crooks to ply their trade. During the season, there are several crimes in particular that everyone should be on the alert for and take some extra measures to protect against.

1.     Robbery

With all the activity, shopping malls and parking lots can become a feeding ground for someone looking to steal from others. Shoppers with their arms full of bags and packages can easily become a target for a robbery. Suspects can lurk about undetected in busy crowds or unseen by distracted passers-by. A quick grab of a victim's packages and a run to a waiting car is all that is needed for this kind of strong arm robbery. A suspect using a gun or other weapon makes it more dangerous.

               Tip - Avoid overloading yourself with packages and walking alone through parking lots. Be alert to anyone sitting in cars in the parking lot or loitering about watching shoppers. Don't try to fight an armed suspect for property - only if your life is in danger. Don't forget the risks at ATMs.

2.     Identity theft

Christmas season is a great opportunity for identity thieves. Hiding in the crowds, it becomes easier to get passwords as people shop online at Wi-Fi spots or even use a cellphone to take a photo of a credit card to use the number online.

               Tip - Be wary of people using cellphones around you in lines or at Wi-Fi locations. Instead of texting they could be videotaping your card number, account user name and passwords. Check your credit card accounts for accuracy and report any suspicious activity right away. Same with bank accounts. If suspicious activity is reported right away, your loss is limited, generally to $50. Stay away from debit cards as a suspect can drain your account before you find out and then you have to work with the bank to even get your money back so the potential loss is greater, at least at first.

               Beware – most identity thefts occur by people we know – roommates, friends and relatives. These are the people in our homes who have easy access to credit cards and other ID information.

3.     Theft

Just as with robberies, it is easy to get distracted and leave items unattended or at least not closely watched. Where force or threats are used in robberies, thefts involve stealing something without the confrontation. Leaving a purse or package in a shopping cart and walking a short distance away is another example.

               TIP - Do not leave items unattended - ever!

               Did you know? The most commonly stolen items anymore are smartphones and tablets, such as iPads and iPhones. Keep a close eye on those electronic items.

4.    Phishing

With all the shopping including online, it is easy for crooks to send out blanket emails to potential victims, pretending to come from well-known online stores. An unsuspecting victim could respond to a believable email and respond to a convincing request to confirm account details. In short order, the suspect has the victims account details and can quickly get online to do their own shopping - at your expense.

               Tip - Even if an email appears to come from an account or online merchant that you have used, be wary that the email actually comes from the store. Check the link included in the email by hovering the mouse over the link. If the links do not match or do not appear to be from the vendor, do not click on it. Better to search for a phone number and contact the vendor directly to check for any problems.

5.     Burglary

This time of year there are a lot of reasons to be away from home. Christmas parties, work parties, family gatherings and shopping, not to mention vacations, keep us away from home more often than normal. But Christmas gifts probably sit under the tree, right by a front window, as part of the decorations. Burglars know this and are looking for signs that no one is home to break in and help themselves to your valuables.

               Tip – When leaving, be sure to set timers to turn on lights and keep gifts and other potential items of interest out of the view from windows. If you have Christmas lights, make sure that they come on even when you are not at home to give the appearance that someone is there. Nothing is more inviting to a burglar than a dark house and decorations turned off. Don’t let mail or newspapers pile up if you are out of town and have a neighbor shovel snow and even park in your driveway to give the appearance someone is home.

               The # 1 way burglars break into a home is through unlocked doors and windows – lock up before leaving!

6.    Vehicle trespass (car break-ins)

When running errands or picking up gifts, it is easy to make multiple stops and leave gifts in the car while inside another store. Crooks love window shopping too and will definitely look for items to steal.

               Tip – Keep valuables out of sight and in the trunk of your car. Try to time your stops so that little will be left in the car at any one time.

7.     Car jacking

Instead of a sleigh full of goodies, some crooks will look for a car loaded down with gifts.

               Tip – Keep valuables out of sight, in the trunk of your car and keep your doors locked. Always watch for anyone lurking about as you walk to and from your car and pay attention to any cars following you – yes, it does happen so if in doubt drive a few extra blocks to be certain no one follows you.

8.    Credit card fraud

Crooks get credit card information in many different ways. Going through the trash is one very low tech way. Meth addicts have been known to use their extra hours awake to reassemble shredded documents for ID theft, including all the mail with the credit card offers. A high tech way to get credit card info is to use skimmers, small devices that record account information. Make sure that card readers at gas stations or other locations work normally and if there is a problem, look for any unusual devices on the reader itself. Crooks sometimes put their own skimmers on and can be very hard to detect.

               Tip – As with other forms of ID theft, keep a close eye on all accounts. Ideally, never let the card out of your site. Even wait staff at a restaurant could keep a skimmer in their pocket to record your credit information.

9.    Family violence

This time of year we think of spending it with our families. Sometimes, that includes the crazy uncle or eccentric aunt. It can also mean violence from others you are around. The added stress of the holidays can contribute, especially if someone has a history of violence.

               Tip – If you have any concerns about others at parties or other gatherings, let family members you trust know beforehand. Limit alcohol and if someone does become threatening or violent, ask them to leave or even call police if necessary.

10. DUI

Speaking of alcohol, there is certainly a bit more this time of year with eggnog and holiday drinks and holiday parties. 

               Tip – When driving, watch the cars around you and keep your distance from cars weaving or driving erratically. When starting from a red light, check to make sure no one is running the light in the cross traffic.

11.  Road rage

 The stress of the holiday can really show itself on the highways as people are rushing back and forth and that can lead to some anger management issues behind the wheel.

               Tip – Do not get into pointless arguments on the road. If someone is flipping you off, ignore it and keep driving. Let aggressive tailgaters pass and if you are being followed, head to a crowded, public location, such as a busy grocery store. Use your cellphone to call police and pay attention to where you are and what street you are on.

12.  Vehicle theft

Our cars are one of our biggest and most valuable assets and we take them everywhere. And they could be a crook’s getaway car or a way to get extra spending money at your expense.

               Tip – Never, ever leave a car running unattended or with your kids inside to run a quick errand or warm up the car. Don’t leave the keys in the car. Park in well-lit areas; avoid isolated parking.

Seasons Greetings

From Business Karate

Eric Smith, CPP is the leading authority on organizational self-defense.  He has extensive experience in law enforcement as well as security management.  Eric is available for staff education and security awareness training as well as business coaching to help organizations provide safe workplaces.  To learn more email eric@businesskarate.com.

 

 

If you would like to reprint this post, please contact Eric at eric@businesskarate.com. 

Surviving a Home Invasion

Your home is your castle.  It is the last refuge – your private escape from the world.  But what happens when that last barrier is breached and a stranger forces their way in?

A home invasion is quite simply a robbery that takes place in your residence.  Robberies at any location are extremely dangerous and account for almost half of the homicides committed during a felony crime.  Not only are they very dangerous, it may be much more common than you think.  Nearly one out of five robberies occurs in residences according to FBI crime data.  In contrast, bank robberies make up only about 2% of all robberies.

Recently, the second suspect in one extremely nefarious home invasion was sentenced to death.  In this case, the home invasion did not start at the victims’ home, but while they were at a grocery store on a Sunday afternoon.  The suspect, Jason Komisarjevsky saw two of the victims, Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her 11-year old daughter, Michaela Petit, and followed them home.  Via texts, Jason contacted his accomplice, Steven Hayes, and they planned to return later, primarily to get drinking money, or so they claimed.

At 2 a.m., the suspects returned to the home, entering through an unlocked basement door.  Upon finding William Petit sleeping on a couch, the two beat him with a baseball bat and tied him up in the basement before attacking Jennifer, Michaela and a second daughter, 17-year old Hayley.  Komisarjevsky and Hayes could not find the cash or jewelry that they had hoped, but found a bank statement for an account with several thousand dollars.  The two waited in the home until the banks opened.  Hayes took Jennifer to the bank where she was able to alert the teller to what was going on before returning to the home with Hayes.  The teller called the police and they began setting up a perimeter around the neighborhood. 

News photo of Petit family

Sadly, as the police officers surrounded the area, the suspects escalated the crime further.  The two sexually assaulted Jennifer and Michaela.  Meanwhile, William Petit escaped to a neighbor’s home to get help.  The suspects found William gone and bound the three remaining victims, doused them with gasoline and set the home on fire.  They were arrested moments later as they tried to drive away in the family’s car.  Jennifer and her two daughters all died at the scene.  Eventually, the two suspects were sentenced to death, a sentence that will probably take years before finally being carried out, unfortunately.

Crime scene photo of Petit home

In tragic situations like this, it is hard to go through the details and look for lessons learned.  Analyzing incidents after the fact may feel like a criticism of victims.  While there are valuable crime prevention lessons in this case, it should not take away from the horror of this crime, nor take away the fact that two people alone are to be blamed one hundred percent – Steven Hayes and Jason Komisarjevsky.  However, there are many more evildoers out there, who may target anyone, at any time, and it is important to learn what might be done differently in the future.

·        Awareness.  Being alert to your surroundings and the people around you is one of the most important security or crime prevention tips for almost any situation.  In this case, the suspect watched the victims in the store and followed their car home.  There is an old saying, once is happenstance; twice, coincidence; and three times, enemy action.  If you keep seeing the same person and they seem to be watching you, then you should go to red alert.  Do not dismiss it.  When driving, check the rear view mirror and look for any cars that seem to be following you.  As you get into a neighborhood, it should become even more suspicious and noticeable.  If in doubt, drive around a couple of blocks in an adjoining neighborhood.  Then someone following will become obvious.  And do not think that this never happens.  Even police officers have been followed home from their departments in order to be targeted, sometimes simply because crooks know that they have guns and want the chance to steal them.  If you are being followed, drive to a crowded area or store and call the police.  Provide all the details you can on the suspect vehicle, including license plate and driver description.

·        Lock doors.  Crooks often become crooks because they are not motivated.  The most common way into a home for a burglary is through unlocked or open doors and windows.  It is the easiest way in.  It is also the easiest to fix.  Make it a habit to lock all doors when leaving or before going to bed.  Some professional burglars liked to hit larger, upper-end homes around dinner when everyone was occupied or not paying attention.  Don’t forget to check windows as well and make sure that all lower-level windows are locked.  Periodically, walk around the house and look at possible ways that someone could get in via upper windows also.  Leaving ladders lying around or items such as trellises, trees adjacent to the house or even trashcans could be used to reach upper levels.  Not only do locks deter or delay a crook, the sound caused breaking in could alert you and give you the chance to retreat to a safe room and call police.

·        Never trust the suspect.  Many suspects will try to convince their victims that continued cooperation will keep them safe, but are really just looking for collaboration to make their crime easier.  When a suspect has made threats or is holding a deadly weapon, assume that they are ready and willing to follow through.  No matter what they say or what excuses they use, consider them very dangerous.  In the Connecticut home invasion, Jennifer Hawke-Petit told the bank teller that the suspects only seemed to want money and hadn’t hurt them.  She may have inadvertently downplayed the danger.

·        Always look for a way to turn the tables.  In this case, once at the bank, Jennifer could have told the suspect that she would not get any money out until the rest of the family was brought safely to the bank where they could be released before even withdrawing the money.  If the suspects were truly after money, they may have given in.  If not, then Jennifer could still shift the balance by refusing to leave until police were there and keep the suspects separated.  The suspect at the home may have panicked and tried to escape without raping or killing anyone, knowing the police were on the way (assuming Steven called him).

·        Do not depend on the police.  In movies and on TV, anytime the police are called, they roll up with lights and sirens, signaling that all is well and just in time for the end credits to pop up on the screen.  In reality, law enforcement may have information that is incomplete or sketchy.  As happened in this home invasion, the response might be more of a focus on setting up a perimeter while trying to get more details.  If you are in a dangerous position and the police are not there, remember that they may be trying to gather more information.  Never give up and keep fighting no matter what happens when your life is threatened.

Home invasions are a very dangerous form of robbery, one that can end tragically.  The good news is that some basic security measures will help protect you and your family and minimize your risk and, ultimately, make your home a real castle in a perilous world.

              

Eric Smith, CPP is the leading authority on organizational self-defense.  He has extensive experience in law enforcement as well as security management.  Eric is available for staff education and security awareness training as well as business coaching to help organizations provide safe workplaces.  To learn more visit http://www.businesskarate.com. 

If you would like to reprint this post, please contact Eric at eric@businesskarate.com. 

The Secret of Avoiding Crime

               How do you predict when or where a crime will happen?  Obviously, if you can manage that task, then you will almost certainly never have to worry about being a victim of crime.  Is that even possible?  Well maybe not completely, but the good news is that there is some predictability to crime.  Just as with real estate, one key factor is location, location, location.

               It is no surprise that some neighborhoods are worse than others are.  And of course, there is some logic behind that view.  Some inner city, high-crime areas are that way because of the highly dense populations.  If you throw in many of the demographics and social characteristics such as economics, access to drugs, poor family support, gang activity and lack of role models you can see how these specific areas become high crime.         

               But there is more.  Many criminals are creatures of habit and fall naturally into certain patterns.  Where they commit their crimes is one of those patterns.  A criminal may have found a target area that fits his or her style.  Perhaps there is lax security, easy getaways, or little chance of discovery.  Whatever the factors, once it has proven to be successful they will likely go back.  Or hit in the same general locale again.

               And bad guys talk to each other.  Often they work in groups so pass on their habits and methods to others, which can continue crime patterns.  Law enforcement has noticed the trend and even uses software designed to track wildlife as a means to track and predict criminal activity.

               So past criminal activity should be a factor in assessing risks, both on an individual basis and for other organizations.  It is important to remember that a certain target zone may not appear to be a high-crime neighborhood, but could still have a history of problems.  For example, the Cherry Creek area is considered an upper-end locale.  Still there have been crime problems as it has been the target of several high-profile cases.  These include abductions and one robbery in which the suspect grabbed a bag with a brand new iPad and severed the victim’s finger when it became stuck in the bag.

               There is another piece to the location puzzle.  Crooks stick to certain regions that have worked for them before.  But, they also want to get something for their misplaced effort – the goods, the loot!  Crooks have to go where they have something they want.

               If a thief is looking for a particular item, then he has to go when that can be found – and where it is vulnerable or exposed.  That begs the question – what do crooks want?  And the answer is – it depends.  Some want money, some drugs, some are looking for something popular and easy to trade or sell on the street.

               One emerging trend has been, however, the growing popularity of smart phones and laptops.  One study cited in “Security Director’s Report” noted that these items were replacing car stereos or TVs as the plunder of choice.

               This directly effects where crime happens.  Now a criminal may move from a parking lot or an empty house to where the smart phones, iPads or laptops are – on your person.  Even the type of crime changes from a property crime to a robbery if force or threats are used (see “How to Survive a Robbery”).

               Now a crook may target individuals leaving work; perhaps at crowded bus stations, subways, and commuter train stations or just walking down the sidewalk.  People are often relaxed or distracted thinking about work or about their plans for the evening, creating opportunity for the bad guys.

               So what do you do to protect yourself?

1.      Know your neighborhood.  This includes the area where you work and play as well.  Check police crime data or websites to find out what types of crimes go on around you.  Many departments have interactive crime maps that allow you to enter addresses and time frames to customize the data.

2.     Know your “bling.”  What makes you a target?  Review what items you carry, wear or use that could be a daily item to you, but valuable loot to someone else.

3.     Stay aware.  Do not get distracted or fail to pay attention to those around you.  That bad guy may be watching you, assessing your loot and looking for an opportunity to steal it.

Follow these crime prevention tips and you’ll go a long way to avoid becoming a victim.  Remember that crime, like real estate, is all about location, location, location. 

Have you wondered how to deal with an aggressive employee or phone threats against a staff member?  Do you have the security system you should?  Are you worried about how your business would handle an emergency situation?  There are lots of worries as a leader in your organization.  Security risks do not have to be one of them. 

Get solutions to your questions.  Contact eric@businesskarate.com. 

How to Survive a Robbery

               William Sutton was popular.  He was, in many ways, a gentleman.  He enjoyed his work and was quoted as saying that he only felt truly alive when plying his trade.  The only problem was that his trade was robbing banks.  Over the course of his life, he robbed 100 banks and netted about $2 million.  The downside, for him, was that he spent half of his adult life in prison.

               In an interview later in his life, he claimed that the weapons he used in his robberies were unloaded.  He was not a violent thief, no one was ever hurt during his heists, and he claimed that if a woman screamed or a child cried he would stop the robbery.

               Unfortunately, not all robbers are as inclined to avoid violence.  In fact, about 10% of homicides occur during robberies.  In one study of a group of incarcerated robbery suspects, almost all did not plan to use violence, but most were willing to use violence if the victim challenged them or did not cooperate.

               Victims are in a very dangerous position during a robbery.  Even our friend William Sutton, aka “Slick Willie,” usually carried a Thompson machine gun noting that you couldn’t rob a bank with charm and personality alone.  Obviously, the victims would not know at the time whether his gun was loaded or not nor whether he was going to hurt them or not. 

               Most robbers are desperate and looking for a ‘quick win.’  The motive for most is to gain money for illegal street activity, such as gambling or drugs.  If drugs are involved that only escalates the risk as the suspect may be going through withdrawal symptoms.

               The risks related to robbery were highlighted recently in a case in Boulder, Colorado.  A man and woman were walking near the college campus at 2 am when a masked man with a gun confronted them.  Initially, the woman thought it was a prank and pulled the bandana off the suspect.  At one point, there was a physical scuffle and the robber fired a warning shot into the air and turned the gun towards the man, shooting and killing him. 

               Fortunately, the police arrested the suspect, Kevin McGregor, within days and charged him with 1^st degree murder as well as possession of a firearm by a previous offender.  As it turned out, the suspect had been involved in a robbery in 2008 when the victim was stabbed in the head with a knife.  McGregor served 120 days of a sentence that was originally supposed to be five years. 

               Both cases offer valuable lessons on dealing with robberies.  Perhaps the first lesson is that businesses recognize their risk.  A reporter credited William Sutton with saying that he robbed banks because “that’s where the money is.”  Obvious, but it is often ignored.  If your business handles cash or drugs then you are at a higher risk.  Some simple steps can help reduce that risk though.  William Sutton earned the title of “Slick Willie” long before our 42^nd president because of his use of disguises to infiltrate his target banks.  He was arrested or stopped on more than one occasion because of alert and suspicious passers-by.

               Most robbers will stake-out their crime ahead of time, especially to make note of escape routes and potential problems.  They will look for where the cash or drugs are stored.  Some suspects preferred crowds and felt that the numerous people helped cover their escape.  Most prefer isolation and catching their victims alone.  Suspects also look for hiding places to use before the offense, either to hide in the business or to remain out of sight waiting for the chance to commit their crime.

               Part of the prevention process is to limit or minimize the hiding areas around your business, as well as signs stating that the cash is locked and not accessible, such as “Our cash registers only have $20 in the drawer.”  Potential escape routes are another important consideration.  Walk around your business thinking like a robber.  How would you plan it?  How would you get away?  When would you time it?

               Some studies have found that some security measures such as video surveillance do not deter criminals.  We only have to watch shows like “America’s Dumbest Criminals” to see that crooks will really do some dumb things knowing that they are almost certainly being recorded on video.

               On a personal level, the same prevention principles still apply.  Be aware of your surroundings and keep your personal valuables out of sight as much as possible.  Some suspects are looking for the right opportunity and seeing a purse hanging loosely from a woman’s shoulder may be a target for a quick ‘strong-arm’ robbery. 

               Remember that a robbery is a very dangerous situation.  If you are robbed, don’t fight for your property, but do fight for your life.  Generally, giving the crook what they ask for as quickly as possible will get them away from you as soon as possible, especially if they are armed.  Don’t make direct eye contact as they may feel you are trying to memorize their face or description.  Do try to note all the descriptors that you can, especially the things that cannot be easily changed.  Skin tone, height, build, tattoos, scars etc. are things that cannot be disguised easily. 

               Of course, call the police immediately.  Too often, victims call their friends, relatives or boss first.  Make the first call to the police to give them the best chance to catch the crook red-handed. 

               The last piece of advice is a tough one.  If the suspect becomes violent and tries to hurt you or someone else, then you must fight back and defend yourself.  Your life is in danger and you must fight like it.  Do whatever it takes: biting, kicking, gouging.  For situations like this, the most important self-defense move is to think through what you will do in a situation like that.  Picture your workplace or places you frequent and imagine scenarios where you might encounter a robber and what you will do to protect yourself.  Having a plan in mind will help keep you from freezing in a moment of terror and could make all the difference.