Every environment has its threats. The urban one is no different. Only, the danger here usually comes in a form that's much more familiar to us than those in, say, a desert or the ocean. It's other people. However, when it comes to protecting ourselves in the city, most of us are still pretty bad at it.
But there's an online discussion that can help. A week ago, Reddit user u/LegalCriminal69 asked people with "street smarts" to share advice that can help to survive in our concrete jungle, and quite a few came through with useful tips. Continue scrolling and you will find some of the best ones.
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Know that criminals rely on their victims to be polite and not cause a scene or draw attention to themselves. When something happens to you, scream and shout. Make it known you’re in danger.
If someone grabs you and starts walking you forcefully, collapse like dead weight don't help them take you somewhere. Then scream bloody murder!
We managed to get in touch with the Redditor behind the post and they were kind enough to tell us what inspired them to create it. u/LegalCriminal69 told Bored Panda they came up with the idea to ask this question when they spotted a guy that tried to rob them and had the urge to jump him.
The Redditor said there are no shortcuts to developing these skills in the wild. "People acquire street smarts through experience and being a lot on the streets." They believe that you actually need to practice most of them for these behaviors to become instinctive, "but some are also possible to learn through reading."
I saw a lady make a video on this and I feel it’s important information to share. If you are a parent and you are in public and somehow you lose track of your kid DO NOT BE QUIET! Searching Quietly to avoid judgment or embarrassment will only lead to the further endangerment of your child. Immediately in the loudest voice possible start describing your child. The color of their hair, the color of their skin, what they are wearing, etc… most likely people around you will start looking for the child that fits that description and all the commotion will most likely (if in the case someone took the child) that person will not want to be caught and will release the child.
The times I have lost one of my kids I instinctively shouted out for help, be it in the middle of Aldi or at a playground: “Can anyone see a 3yo boy in a yellow shirt?”. Not only has my child been found and returned to me quickly, but the reassuring pats, smiles and words of empathy from people around was amazingly reassuring. I realised I had never seen or heard anyone else do this (even as a child - and my sister was a runner) and I wondered if I was doing something foolish or incorrect in doing so. As far as I can see, though, it seems to be purely, I don’t know, timidity? Shame of losing a kid? (Cos I totally feel that regardless). I don’t know.
I've lived in the Bronx all my life. A lot of what I would suggest has been said already, so I'm gonna give two pieces of advice that haven't been said.
First: have some cash on you. Not a lot, but enough to catch a cab home. Why? If you're ever in a situation in which you're running and hail a cab, a lot of independent cab companies (aka gypsie cabs) don't take credit/PayPal, etc, and some even legit use their machines to steal card info (happened to me once). Have enough cash to pay someone to get your a*s home FAST.
Second: MEMORIZE. SOME. PHONE NUMBERS!
payphones may not be a thing anymore, but if you a*s ends up in jail, in a hospital, in any s**t situation, and you don't have your phone, you better know at least 3 numbers by heart of people who are ride or die for you. The amount of people I have seen die at my job that we couldn't reach next of kin cause their phone was damaged beyond usefulness and we had to bury as John Does is way to high. HAVE THAT F*****G NUMBER IN YOUR HEAD AND TELL IT TO US BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!
It is so true about memorizing phone numbers. So many just rely on having them in their phone including me.
When you look at the numbers, the relevancy of these tips becomes certain. While a majority of Americans feel safe enough to stroll in the dark in their own neighborhoods, or anywhere within a mile of where their home, this inner calmness is far from universal.
In the U.S., 36% have expressed fear about walking alone at night. Also, this distress rises to nearly 50% among women, city dwellers, and the poor.
These figures are based on combined data from the six Gallup Crime polls conducted from 2009 to 2015, including interviews with 7,141 American adults. During this time, the percentage expressing fear of walking alone near their homes at night has been steady, ranging from 34% to 38%. In the longer 50-year history of the trend, the percentage fearful of walking alone has ranged from a low of 30% in 2001, a month after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., to a high of 48% in 1982.
Always act like you know where you are going.
If you’re feeling uncomfortable or uneasy, trust it. Whenever I’ve felt uneasy while walking through my neighborhood I’ve always seen something or heard of something happening.
Yes! Always trust your instincts. That is what you have them for!
If you are buying something and someone says "wait here. I'll be right back with it" and they already have your money, they will not be back.
Exchange money only when you see the item. Also if it seems fishy...leave.
Stay THE F**K off your phone and pay attention to your surroundings. Best way to get knocked over the head and your pockets ran is with your nose in your phone and your earbuds in.
The fact that a person can walk anywhere near his or her home alone at night without fear is one of the basic measures of how safe and secure people feel, which greatly improves (or, in bad cases, diminishes) their overall well-being.
But interestingly, external factors that one might expect to significantly affect this measure (such as a declining national crime rate and a plethora of highly publicized mass shootings) have failed to push fear up or down.
Even fluctuations in Americans' sense that crime is increasing or decreasing have not considerably changed their beliefs about whether or not their neighborhoods are dangerous.
If you find yourself driving in a bad area and getting stopped at a stop sign or stop light, always leave room to get around the car in front of you. Even if that has to be the sidewalk, leave enough room to get out. Pay attention to who else is around you and if suddenly doors open and people start moving toward you just start driving and don’t stop.
They probably won’t chase you, at least not far. Easier to find another victim.
Grown men don’t ask women or children for help. They have an ulterior motive.
Grown men, if you happen to be the 1% that does approach women on the street for help, stop doing it and please stop acting surprised when we’re afraid of you. This is how we go missing.
Nah, whether or not it's appropriate to ask an adult depends on the type of help. Asking someone to come with you to help you gives them reason to be scared of you. Asking someone for directions or something not so much, as long as you're asking in an appropriate manner. Asking children is different.
You didn't see anything. Keep moving.
But as soon as you can/feel safe to do so alert authority.. I collapsed and was robbed while having a seizure my hero didn't try to save my purse but may have saved my life.
Yeah, I was gonna say, that's how criminals get away with stuff. Especially kidnappers and rapists.
Load More Replies...And this is how you get bystander syndrome, "it's not my problem, someone else will call for help for them." So what if someone else called it in first at least you'll know you did something.
Honestly, this is stated so generally, it's just a huge suitcase to unpack. Whatever about property crimes. But, in any case of ongoing abuse, kidnapping, hate crimes, bullying, harassment or any other activities that have a victim, please have the courage to bear witness and report it to authorities. In the odd case that you come across a Mob assassination or a gang beatdown, sure, fine, run and don't tell anyone if it endangers your health.
Use windows and mirrors to check behind you when you walk places. Takes less time than pulling out your phone and using the camera.
Walk with confidence, walk straight and SLIGHTLY faster than your normal pace
How does the wannabe perp know you're walking _slightly_ faster than your normal pace? What's the sense?
Don’t ever let anybody take you to a secondary location.
99% of the time it's a less public place. Once you're there your chances of survival are practically zero.
Nothing good comes from a stranger approaching you and saying "can I ask you a question?" - you'll be locked into a long conversation that ends with a plea for money
If someone genuinely wants information or help they'll ask straight away or maybe after a short greeting, no need for small talk!
There's more than one way to get home. If you see something shady going on on your normal route you're better off taking the long way than getting involved with whatever is happening.
And don't be nosey! Don't sneak up to the action to video the action with your phone. Curiosity kills. Get away!
If you have to walk around a sketchy area don’t dress like you have anything worth taking.
Be loud and show no fear.I was sitting behind a bar in the bed of my friend's truck at night with a couple of my gal friends, we were waiting for our boyfriends to close out and meet us (honesty - we had smoked a joint and my friends have low tolerance). A man and his lady companion got out of their car and were arguing about something, she was trying to pull him back to their car.He started approaching the truck and pulled out what looked like zip-tie loops. My friends were laying down and I was sitting up. Gut immediately screamed alarm bells. I stood up and shouted "Get the F-ck back! Get back to your f-cking car!" I always carry a knife, mainly for work and discretely pulled it out of my pocket, and also pulled out my phone in the other hand aggressively shouted "Get the f-ck back, I'm calling the police." (I had no cell service).The woman ran back to the car and started honking the horn. He ran back just as our boyfriends were walking up and they peeled out of the parking lot. Too dark to get a plate, but I still called in with their descriptions.
This was 25 years ago and I still remember every second.
Of course every situation is different, but be very loud and show confidence, *even if you don't feel it.
Be aware, but not afraid, of your surroundings. S**t people look for the unwary and afraid, because they're easier to bully/rob.
Like a pack of predators on the hunt for prey, looking to separate the weakest and most vulnerable member from their herd and isolate them before killing and eating them. That’s how you have to think of it. You have to NOT look like potential prey to predators on the streets.
If you're in a big town or a city and a group of kids surround you, keep your hands in your pockets and don't let them get behind you. Some will try to distract you while others pickpocket you.
At any place where you're stationary for a period of time (e.g. bus stop) assess the area and identify all possible escape routes. Also check if there's anything nearby that you could use as a weapon to even the score. I often do the escape route thing if I'm in a waiting room like a doctors surgery, probably just because I get bored easily. I'm a people watcher too so I'm always aware of how many people are around and the energy each of them bring into the room.
Don't talk to any strangers and don't let them stop you on the street. Just keep walking.
1) If you have the opportunity sprint away to a public place with lots of witnesses in any sketchy situation
2) gunshots nearby (like a block or two away at most) find cover, get behind it and keep a low profile. Don't look like a threat, don't be a hero, try to find where the shots are coming from and quickly/discreetly get the f**k away
3) if you have to fight, assume you are fighting for your life. There is no honor, mfers aren't here to have an honor duel they are here to hurt you. Punch, kick, eye gouge and especially bite in a street situation with a stranger. Everyones a gangster til you bite a chunk out of them.
4) be familiar with the area. Don't go into the hoods if you aren't known there/know how to carry yourself in a rough area. After living in the projects, carrying yourself with confidence and moving with a purpose are much more valuable than tryna rep your s**t if you're not about that life. Know the best ways to get through/out of a bad neighborhood
5) don't trust street vendors (really just hustlers). The best response is "sprekenzy deutsch" or "Hablo espanol" depending on the particular hustler.
6) most importantly, mind your own f****n business
Don’t cross a busy road 20ft from a crossing with a light.
Live another day.
if you are here in Italy, for God's sake, look 10 times left and right before you cross the crosswalk... cars stop ONLY if they feel like it and if you have had eye contact... too many tourists are used in their countries to crossing without even looking, with the results you can imagine...
ALWAYS. Be attentive to your surroundings.
The simplest, yet most important rule of them all.
Don't have headphones in, making you unable to hear anything around you.
Don't have your face up in your expensive phone, making you blind to your surroundings and showing off your easy-to-grabs.
Do, look around. Make it a habit to always look around, or look at that noise and figure out what's going on around you.
That way, you'll see those two dudes coming up to rob you, and you'll hear the third one sneaking up behind you to jump you.
Another pro-tip. Have RBF. Resting b***h face puts people off.
Most people looking to rob you are just trying to intimidate you and get you to hand over your valuables, not a fight that could land them in prison with an AWADW charge or 2nd degree murder charge.
*and if you're South American, the prisons are notoriously s**t so if you do get arrested it will be really s**t, and if you don't get arrested they kill without discretion in certain SA countries.
RBF can be the difference between looking easy and looking like a problem.
And lastly, if you DO get robbed, and you have not been killed, cooperate.
The coward pieces of s**t that kill to steal will shoot first and ask questions second. Its these F***s that make it particularly important to go back to the first rule.
ALWAYS BE ATTENTIVE TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS. You'll spot a mugging a block away, and react accordingly.
As for my credibility, I grew up in a particular South American Country. That's all you need to trust my words.
Don't ever have your eyes looking down at the ground. Keep your eyes looking what's in front of you and attentive to your surroundings.
Don't ever? Sorry, people have dogs and dogs poop everywhere so I have to look down too. You can do that and be aware too.
Never show fear or nervousness when you’re female and alone. If a man tries to draw you in, it sounds counter-intuitive, but you’re better off being friendly and in control than hostile.
“Hey hon! I am in a damn hurry - hope you’re good!” And laugh and walk faster as you wave and smile.
- woman who travels alone and has walked some scary places at 3am
It has always helped me to be humane with the aggressor. Treat him nice, and without fear (think sisterly). As if you have good friends or family that are similar to his hood/gang, as if you're super used to his behaviour. If he tries to rob, F**k, me bro?! Ok, here if you need it I have 5-10€ in my purse (I rarely carry big money, if I do it's in a more secretive place, as well as my cards - and different places, separate). Of course, I have been lucky so far with the criminals that approached me. And I have followed most rules in the points above.
Don’t be the person to start a fight, it’s really not worth it
You are always going somewhere with confidence. Lost AF? Walk with confidence. Got dropped off too early by an Uber? Walk like you are the boss of that street. Do not stare at your phone looking lost.
Mind your business. If you hear people talk or doing something keep your eyes where you’re going. Don’t look over to catch a peek.
If you are in a group of people who are about to get in trouble or something is going wrong just casually walk away. This only really applies if you are a teen like I was trying to sneak in places with my friends or loutering or doings something delinquent. But I always stayed observant just out of habit, and i would see cop cars pull up or an angry looking person coming our way and literally just get up and walk away as casual as possible. This has literally never failed me.
Yup. The town I live in Marks all teens as trouble so this old guy dam up to me and my friends and started screaming about a redbull can that he KNEW was ours. It wasn't. We had gone near that area when we were playing around but we had left our stuff on a bench with some people who weren't playing with us but this dude came up to us and we all literally just got up. One of my friends was about to have a panic attack and we just walked away. I grabbed her and made sure she was OK and we just got on our buses and left.
Always be aware of your surroundings, if someone looks or sounds a little off avoid eye contact especially on public transportation, and don't let nobody punk you. I carry a knife with me most of the time and depending on the situation ( like getting jumped or the dude is way bigger than me) I will use it. When I was younger I was always with friends so rarely ever ran into trouble but now that I'm older I'm usually out & about by myself or with my daughter and I'm to old to run so I gotta do what I gotta do to protect myself and if someone messed with my daughter you'll definitely see me on the news
If you can before you travel use google streetview to familiarize yourself with the area. Befoe my 1st trip to Paris i did a streetview walk through from the train station to my hotel, remembering what the buildings looked like where i needed to walk, etc. And carry a money belt, not a wallet. I saw an older Amercan couple on the same train going to my stop get pickpocketed after the fact.
In Paris there are pickpockets who target tourists on the Metro. (This from a friend who lived in Paris for years and escorted me around when I was there.) They get on at a stop and come and sit down very close to people who look 'touristy'. Then they wait until the train is slowing down and grab anything on the seat, etc. This happened to us, where two guys got on, and our friend didn't say anything, but they got off at the next stop. He said, "Those two guys wanted to steal from us, but being South African, of course that didn't happen." (I had a death grip on my bag and my brother was leaning against his backpack as well as having its straps over his shoulders.) South Africans will mess you up if you mess with us, hey.
When carrying a purse with a zipper on a female, make sure the opening end faces the front (where you can keep an eye on it). This stops anyone following you from opening your bag and stealing your wallet or other valuables.
Stay alert, and at night, try to remain in places with enough light
If you enter a neighborhood with kids outside, or elderly people outside, it’s a safe neighborhood. If there’s no kids and just adults sitting outside, chances are it’s not safe
Think this one is going to vary from place to place. Equally kids hanging out in the streets could be a sign that there is nothing else for them to do in that area (not that that means they are not safe, but bored and looking for stuff to do on the streets is more likely to lead to mischief), and a quiet area could be because it's inhabited mainly be young people who are working or in their homes, rather than families
Not from a big city, but I’ve spent plenty of time in DC and NYC. I knew enough to just ignore people who are acting crazy, panhandling, or trying to sell you stuff.
Walk quickly and with purpose, look like you know where you are and know where you’re going.
Act like you belong too. It’s the people who look like tourists or like they don’t know what they’re doing who end up getting victimized.
* Know where all your exits are
* Be aware of who and what is coming towards you (even from a great distance)
* Never let yourself be caught in a dead-end
* Be deliberate about everything you do
If you don't act like you are in the wrong place, most people will ignore you.
If you need to ask for help, being polite and accepting someone may not be able to help will get you what you need.
Not street smart, but I learned to avoid eye contact as much as possible. Making eye contact is a form of reciprocity. *I gave you my attention, you owe me*... just keep walking.
Head high in a comfortable, confident manner. Disdain for everyone/thing, and most importantly, pepper spray. The tactical kind that sprays a cloud.
Not sure about the legality of pepper spray in Australia. But mosquito spray comes in strong and strongest. And is always relevant. And will work. As they back away start yelling - and keep yelling . "Dave call the cops" is my auto yell. # PRACTICE yelling especially if you are a mild person,
Always act like you know where you are and where you're going. Walk slightly faster than your usual pace and walk with confidence.
When walking somewhere, always look around and keep track of what could be used as a weapon if needed.
If someone asks “what-chu-be-about?” The answers is always “nothing”. If you try and get cute you’ll probably get a bat over the head or a cap in your a*s before you finish your smart-a*s answer.
Don’t make eye contact and don’t stop walking. Keep moving. Don’t look down at the ground or your phone either, Try to stay on busy main streets when possible - the more people around you, the better. Look like you know what you’re doing and walk with purpose.
Let’s say a guy pulls a knife on you to mug you. What do you do? You go fumbling for your wallet. And you go fumbling for your wallet. Well, in that split second, that’s when he’s going to stab you. So here’s what you do. You kids get yourselves a money clip. Okay, you can get these at any haberdashery. You put a $50 bill in the money clip then when a guy flashes a blade, you go, ‘You want my money, go get it!’ Then you run in the other direction.
I'm confused, you can get stabbed pulling out your wallet but not your money clip...?
Never go with a weirdo/drug dealer to a second location.
There are no rules in a street fight.
If you s**t in your hand during a confrontation, they will leave you alone.
Once again (as always with these lists) I find lots of it quite paranoid. But maybe that's just me living in the German suburbs again (nearly crime-free), so I can't really relate...
No, no, no! Not again! This seems to appear on something like a three week cycle. And it was ridiculous in the first place. Let us have no more "street smarts" lists!
(I have shared this before) A large, muscular man was walking toward me on the side walk one afternoon. He glared aggressively. I didn't see anyone else outside. With a big smile, I said, "I am so happy to see you!" His posture changed. "I really need your help." He was curious, no longer so aggressive. "I don't have my reading glasses on so I can't read my watch. Can you please read it for me?" He smiled -- knowing he could help me. He had touch my hand slightly to see the the watch. Smiling, he told me what time it was. "I am not late. Thank goodness. I can stop panicking." His smile grew. I wasn't afraid, looked him in the eye, treated him as an equal. and asked a favor, help he could easily provide. Lastly, I thanked him. He beamed. Next time I saw him he greeted me like a friend.Every situation is different. I had just read about the power of asking a favor.
"He glared aggressively." I, a 5 foot female, have been told so many times I look like I'm in a bad mood when that's just my face when I'm not actively interacting with anyone. Finally someone invented the term Resting B***h Face and now I can describe myself.
Load More Replies...I’m convinced the only criteria to having “street smarts” is to just be very paranoid but trying to make it seem like a good thing
For everyone saying this is a parionoid list, it isn't- from the US. Another tip, always check your backseat and under your car when getting in at night or in dark areas (like a car garage).
There are many, many, MANY parts of America where we feel perfectly safe and these rules don't apply at all. I live in one of them.
Load More Replies...If there is someone walking behind me that I feel nervous about, I often pull over to the side and pretend to look through my bag or phone so I can get a look at them and they will hopefully pass me. I especially do this as I'm approaching my front door.
If you are ever lost in an unfamiliar city and don't know where the good vs bad side of town is, Google Barnes and Noble bookstore. They never put those in the dangerous areas and you can ask for help or directions nearby without worrying about your safety quite as much. Especially if you are female
This works in the United States. I can't vouch for other countries
Load More Replies...Once again (as always with these lists) I find lots of it quite paranoid. But maybe that's just me living in the German suburbs again (nearly crime-free), so I can't really relate...
No, no, no! Not again! This seems to appear on something like a three week cycle. And it was ridiculous in the first place. Let us have no more "street smarts" lists!
(I have shared this before) A large, muscular man was walking toward me on the side walk one afternoon. He glared aggressively. I didn't see anyone else outside. With a big smile, I said, "I am so happy to see you!" His posture changed. "I really need your help." He was curious, no longer so aggressive. "I don't have my reading glasses on so I can't read my watch. Can you please read it for me?" He smiled -- knowing he could help me. He had touch my hand slightly to see the the watch. Smiling, he told me what time it was. "I am not late. Thank goodness. I can stop panicking." His smile grew. I wasn't afraid, looked him in the eye, treated him as an equal. and asked a favor, help he could easily provide. Lastly, I thanked him. He beamed. Next time I saw him he greeted me like a friend.Every situation is different. I had just read about the power of asking a favor.
"He glared aggressively." I, a 5 foot female, have been told so many times I look like I'm in a bad mood when that's just my face when I'm not actively interacting with anyone. Finally someone invented the term Resting B***h Face and now I can describe myself.
Load More Replies...I’m convinced the only criteria to having “street smarts” is to just be very paranoid but trying to make it seem like a good thing
For everyone saying this is a parionoid list, it isn't- from the US. Another tip, always check your backseat and under your car when getting in at night or in dark areas (like a car garage).
There are many, many, MANY parts of America where we feel perfectly safe and these rules don't apply at all. I live in one of them.
Load More Replies...If there is someone walking behind me that I feel nervous about, I often pull over to the side and pretend to look through my bag or phone so I can get a look at them and they will hopefully pass me. I especially do this as I'm approaching my front door.
If you are ever lost in an unfamiliar city and don't know where the good vs bad side of town is, Google Barnes and Noble bookstore. They never put those in the dangerous areas and you can ask for help or directions nearby without worrying about your safety quite as much. Especially if you are female
This works in the United States. I can't vouch for other countries
Load More Replies...