ADVERTISEMENT

Being street smart means knowing how to keep yourself safe from strangers. Whether you're just riding your bike in the neighborhood or coming home from a friend's at night, there are things you can do to protect your valuables and even your life.

To learn more about them, a now-deleted Reddit user posted a question on r/AskReddit, saying "What are the best 'street smart' tips you can give?" Within just 3 days, people have submitted hundreds of answers, providing valuable insights to those who might be exposed to dangerous environments.

#1

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' If you feel things are about to take a turn for the worse, leave.

boyfromcountyhell , Les Anderson Report

#2

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' If you get arrested, shut the f**k up. Ask for a lawyer, and then shut the f**k up. And when a lawyer shows up, shut the f**k up

inkseep1 , Office of Public Affairs Report

Add photo comments
POST
shane-harris42 avatar
YouDontLikeMe?
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good advice. Initially frustrated with this post, but it isn't wrong. Maybe try not to get arrested to begin with.... but I can't argue with it, it is sound advice. Don't talk yourself into something.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Always walk on the side of the road that opposes traffic. This puts distance between you and a car that might be trying to follow you

kannakantplay , Nathan Rogers Report

#4

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Trust your gut. Your subconscious can notice details your conscious mind doesn’t. Don’t be afraid of making a scene to keep yourself safe

usually_just_lurking , Mark Pan4ratte Report

Add photo comments
POST
jlh1134206 avatar
JLH
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember driving at night and getting a weird vibe. I pulled into the middle lane to stop. Everyone in the car was confused, and honestly so was I. Seconds later a car flies by with it's lights off, going the wrong direction in the lane I just came from. Almost caused a wreck behind us (fortunately it didn't), but it was so weird. I only remember thinking the lights ahead of us were off a little and that triggered a big warning. Crazy.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' I am female, these are tips to make you appear stronger as a female on the street (walking home, nighttime subway, etc):

If you think you are being followed or if you hear somebody behind you - feel free to turn around and look directly at them because it shows you are not afraid to be aware of your surroundings.

By the same measure, don't be afraid (generally) to meet people's eyes. Not in a confrontational "yeah? WHAT!?" sort of way, but in a "I am seeing the people in my world" sort of engaged and aware way.

This shows you do not fear engaging your surroundings.

Again - this is to show you are capable, this is not to provoke or antagonize - that's a different, defensive posture.

UnicornPanties , diaper Report

Add photo comments
POST
dark_flame87hotmail_com avatar
Dark_flame
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This will also make sure you get a good look at the person and might be able to describe them later if need be

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#6

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Do not engage with crazy.

If they address you directly, still don’t engage

NicNac_PattyMac , Victor Rodvang Report

Add photo comments
POST
bytute avatar
Jovita A
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's why I wear headphones.. I can't hear you... No, seriously headphones are a good way to stop people from engaging in conversations with you. Though as mentioned before, you shouldn't listen to music to loud so no one can sneak on you.

hello_430 avatar
Hello
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even if you listen to white noise or it isn't that loud, it still makes you less situationally aware. Your subconcious can't notice little details.

Load More Replies...
firefly131131 avatar
Coleonema
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had a random guy do that once when I was 13, pretty sure he was going to push me off a bridge if the other people hadn't shown up when they did

nicoleholttx avatar
Nicole Holt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had that happen on a train before. There were quite a few people on the train with me, but I was singled out by a guy who was either drunk or high. I've been playing Sudoku on my phone and then realized that he was talking to/yelling at me. He called me a white stuckup bitch. Said he was going to kill me, etc, etc. I kept ignoring him and looking at my phone, but aware at all times where he was. He came as close as right next to me. I stayed calm, but if he would have touched me, I was ready to jump up and take him down. I know some self-defence and as I always say "I watch wrestling. I can drop you". LOL. Anywho, the guy finally left the train after a good 15 minutes of harassing me. I should say: Nobody on the train said anything in my defense, which is actually a bit disappointing. Well, he left the train and a person close to me said: "Wow, you've got the patience of a saint". I just said: "If he would have touched me, I would have cracked his head open on the train floor".

jackiehill2769 avatar
Jacqueline H
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where I live, the crazies n bums are BOLD. I can't tell you how many times I'm wearing headphones and said person wants something. They will come up to me and motion for me to take my headphones off and then say to me "you got a dollar?" Or "lemme get a cigarette..." Or "can you save me a short (end of the cig)?" It's so annoying n I NEVER say yes. I always ignore n do my best to get away from said bum. Half the time the one asking (or should I say 'demanding) is dressed better than I am. Not my fault you spent your money on those hideous Jordans. Bye!

a_hope avatar
A. Hope
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On of the best advice I heard: If you see crazy coming, cross the street

queeronabike avatar
Andy Acceber
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes and no. I 100% think this is a safety tactic, but I also think lots of people take it too far. Folks who are houseless see this a lot. People try to look through them. I dunno about you, but I can think of few things that would make me start having crazy verbal conversations with myself more than everyone pretending I didn't exist.

kail_chamberlain avatar
Kyle Chamberlain
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good advice, living in New York this happens a lot. Best thing is to ignore or walk away.

landaulitewski avatar
Jonathan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've had crazy approach me at night and it is genuinely terrifying when there is nobody else around.

briannevillano avatar
bv7hearts
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why I talk to myself, twitch, and scream out if someone is following me. They think I'm the crazy one and they peace out.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#7

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Basically, just be aware of your surroundings. A lack of situational awareness can lead to some bad things.

tommytster , John Fornander Report

Add photo comments
POST
masselabel avatar
Gandalf the Pink
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know if this counts as street smart or just generally a good rule. Don't be wandering deep forests without situational awareness, don't pilot an airplane without situational awareness.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' If someone is attempting to take you to a secondary location by car or something, fight like your life depends on it, because it does. Poke their eyes out. Punch them in the testicles. Bite them, scratch them, anything you can think of, do it to get yourself free. There are no rules when it comes to this situation. Some specific things you can do are screaming 'Fire!' Or 'Help my child!' This will catch more attention than just plain 'Help.'

Spook_Fuzz , Alexandre Brondino Report

Add photo comments
POST
biljanamalesevic avatar
Biljana Malesevic
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is true. Once they get you into car or van you are in much more difficult situation. Don't let them get you in, use whatever you got!

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Use windows as mirrors to see your blind spots or to check behind you. Literally every window you walk past, you should take a quick glance to know what’s going on in your blind spots. You can almost completely get rid of blind spots altogether because of windows.

jjb8712 , Tim Gouw Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#10

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Don't walk into the street texting, tweeting, meme-ing, etc. I've seen people walking straight into traffic because of this

rip_andtear , Brian Evans Report

#11

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Cops will take the side of anyone that speaks calmly every time no matter the circumstances

NicNac_PattyMac , Steve Baker Report

Add photo comments
POST
cats-09-2016 avatar
SydneyP
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My goodness every single suggestion on here has a snarky comment underneath it. It leads me to one conclusion: there are A LOT of miserable, self conscious, know it alls around. Show some kindness, compassion, and love. It doesn’t hurt you at all. If one doesn’t like or approve of these stories/suggestions then don’t read it. These things could potentially save a life one day. Not everyone thinks the same way so this could help someone. Or you folks can go back to being miserable nitpicks. It’s your choice 🤷🏻‍♀️

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Seriously, you should swing wide around corners, it’s no joke. Five or six ago, I was walking home from the bar. I lived two blocks away. At the time, I was 6'1" and probably weighed 280 pounds. I came around the corner about halfway home and BOOM, I went down. Some kid that didn't even look 18 nailed me in the face with a skateboard. I went down so fast and didn't even know what hit me

rusty_L_shackleford , Priscilla Du Preez Report

Add photo comments
POST
lucyskinner avatar
Lucy Skinner
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So true! This could have helped me avoid so many awkward situations!

View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' If you are a woman in a public place a guy is giving you the creeps walk up to a big dude and just go “John! I can’t believe it’s you!” Then go into a hug and say “let me sit next to you, please.”

Most guys will get what’s going on and go with it and the chances that they themselves are creeps are slim.

NicNac_PattyMac , amir appel Report

Add photo comments
POST
kathrynbaylis_1 avatar
Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No. Just go into a well lit crowded place, and alert an employee—-especially a female employee—-to the situation. Believe me, if you come up to me while I’m at work, and tell me someone’s following you, I will let you hide in the employee breakroom, have a trusted make employee walk you out, or let you slip out the back door to get away from them. If they follow you into the building, I will walk by them and make a scene like they touched my ass or something, because I love to embarrass creeps who are relying on their victims being embarrassed and quiet. I’m also 60 now, so it’ll make them look like pervs who grope old ladies (I will laugh my ass off about it afterward). I put up with this s**t for decades myself, and older women were usually my first defenders. Now that the harassment doesn’t happen to me anymore (what a relief), I want to pay that favor forward.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#14

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Shadows can also be useful to pay attention to when you’re trying to peek behind you or see if there’s someone around a corner

jannabanandroid , Martino Pietropoli Report

Add photo comments
POST
matheus_cml95 avatar
Matheus Oliveira
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is great! Too bad it doesn’t work on my place’s dead alleys, though.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Walk confident on the street. Thieves often target people who lack confidence, appear nervous or walk irregularly.

AgnosticPrankster , Clem Onojeghuo Report

Add photo comments
POST
masselabel avatar
Gandalf the Pink
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine going through this list in your head, trying to recall all the details, and simultaneously thinking "don't appear nervous, don't appear nervous, don't appear nervous"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' DO NOT WEAR HEADPHONES!!!



You make yourself an easy target by making it so even the most clod footed mugger can sneak up on you.

LinuxPariah , Marco Lastella Report

#17

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Always get your keys out before you leave a building to go to your car, and have them in hand as you exit it before you go into your house. Not only are they a great weapon if needed, but you aren't distracted while searching for them.

notthesedays , Abbie Parks Report

Add photo comments
POST
raven_sheridan14 avatar
Raven Sheridan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grip your keys in your fist, with keys sticking out between your fingers. Like a spiked knuckleduster. I've done this a few times. Never needed it thankfully!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Be weary of women who approach you at a bar and immediately try and get you to go to another bar.

Those people are called “pullers” and they are paid to do it.

NicNac_PattyMac , Elevate Report

Add photo comments
POST
chabot0310 avatar
Miguel justino C
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pullers set up a situation where the man thinks he has a chance with a pretty woman. Then they get robbed by her cohorts.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#19

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' If you drive an SUV and you're in a parking lot, beware if you get in and notice there's a flyer under the small wiper on your back window. Many people get in and look in the rear view mirror as they start to back out; that's when they see the flyer blocking their view. They pop out to grab it, leaving the engine on and the door open for the second it takes, and that's when someone jumps in and car jacks you.

BodySnag , William Krause Report

Add photo comments
POST
raven_sheridan14 avatar
Raven Sheridan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Be mindful of vans with sliding side doors parked next to your vehicle also. Someone could open the door, pull you in the vehicle, while their accomplice starts the van and drive away with you.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' When you're at a bus or train stop at night, with nobody else around, and you hear young guys talking where you know they go in your direction, quickly disappear before you get in their sight.

They may be harmless, but as long as the probability they want to start [things] as soon as they notice you is there, don't take a risk. Learned that the hard way several times.

myhamsterisajerk , JimsFlicker Report

#21

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Avoid gawking around. It screams 'tourist,' which screams 'money on them' and 'no idea what to do in a situation

NicNac_PattyMac , Lala Azizli Report

Add photo comments
POST
treforjames avatar
Gurnox
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

See also 'staring at Google/Apple maps', which also tells an assailant you have something worth stealing. Know your route.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#22

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Walk like you know where you're going, make eye contact with strangers, and don't wear fancy clothes/purses/backpacks when walking around the neighborhood or using public transport

Lulu_42 , Alicia Steels Report

Add photo comments
POST
typeyourtexthere avatar
Winston Smith
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And dont leave anything with your name in it sitting where people can see it. They call your name in a parking lot and you stop, thinking its someone you know. Then they spring

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Putting a chain on your wallet shows a thief exactly where your wallet is and a chain will not stop an experienced thief.

ILoveLampRon , Reuben Strayer Report

#24

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' In most cases, dressing and acting like you belong where you are goes a long way to blending in.

Whether it's breaking into an office building or walking by yourself at night, your appearance goes a long way towards making you just another blotch of white nois

The_Quicktrigger , Marc Kleen Report

#25

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Don’t fumble through your pockets.

If you think your being followed go into a store calmly and chat with the workers.

Carry a loose dollar bill or two if your someone that likes to give money to people. Less likely to target the dude that handed a single dollar than the guy who pulled a dollar out of a wallet full of 20’s

Spawn95 , Mike Schmid Report

Add photo comments
POST
wendillon avatar
Wendillon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pffft, please! I'm a woman! You don't honestly think my clothes have pockets do you?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Pay attention to your surroundings at all time but mind your own business. Depending on the neighborhood someone screaming for help from an alley isn't really the one in danger

Zkenny13 , Adam Birkett Report

#27

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Surround yourself with people who make you feel safe. There’s a difference between feeling comfortable and feeling safe. You could be comfortable with strangers— maybe you just met them and they’re nice. You might not be safe around those people, i.e. would those people help you if someone had a gun to your head, or run for their own safety? Find the people who you know would take a punch to keep you safe

badgerfishing , Oscar Chevillard Report

Add photo comments
POST
leas_ avatar
Lea S.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is a little weird....I'm supposed to judge my friends and the people I surround myself with on whether or not they'd take a bullet for me? Excuse me, mother with two small children, if we are going to go this movie I need to know you'll throw yourself in front of a bullet for me first.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

28 Of The Most Useful Tips From People That Are 'Street Smart' Realize the difference between someone trying to hurt you and trying rob you. Act accordingly.

NicNac_PattyMac , Cooper Report

Add photo comments
POST
grantmffy avatar
Grant Barke
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Learn a martial art like origami and turn your assailant into a harmless paper flower.

View more commentsArrow down menu