SAS Urban Survival Handbook (93 page)

• ◑ Avoid outward shows of wealth—jewellery (especially gold chains which may be snatched from the neck), expensive clothes/bags, cameras.
  
• ◑ Don’t carry ALL your cash in one place or in your bag.
  
• ◑ When alone in the street or on public transport follow all the rules already given.
  
• ◑ Some muggers seek out victims on likely paydays. Try to avoid carrying your wage packet home.
  
• ◑ Don’t carry cheque books/credit cards/cash all together—separate them.
  
• ◑ Take out only as much money as you need—banknotes could be kept in a moneybelt and change in a pocket or bag.
  
• ◑ Keep your keys separate—if you lose means of identification (such as your driving licence) AND your keys, CHANGE YOUR LOCKS as soon as possible.
  
• ◑ Carry ‘spare’ money you can give to muggers. They will think it is all you have.
  
• ◑ If anyone asks you for change—or if you give money to someone ‘begging’ in the street, do NOT take out all your money. Carry spare change in a pocket.
  
• ◑ Some muggers operate on public transport by grabbing a necklace or bag and leaping off. DON’T sit close to the door.
  

BAG SNATCHING

Apart from the dangers of losing unattended luggage, some thieves operate by snatching bags (often in crowded places) and running off. A shoulder bag is a good idea, but wear the strap diagonally across your body so you can always see it—NOT just hanging on one shoulder.

Women are the main targets. The thief (who could be male or female) can expect to find cash, cheque book, credit cards, keys, identification—EVERYTHING. If you carry a bag, keep money, credit cards or keys in your pockets or in a moneybelt.

• ◑ Carry your bag on the side AWAY from a road. There are drive-by bag snatchers—even cyclists and motor cyclists!
  
• ◑ If your bag is snatched, DON’T try to tackle the thief—he/ she may be armed.
  
• ◑ Shout ‘HELP!’ and ‘POLICE!’ and ‘BAG SNATCHER!’ Someone may help you (if you’re lucky).
  
• ◑ If someone picks up your luggage shout ‘HEY, YOU!’ and run towards them. If the luggage is/looks heavy, the thief will realize they will be unable to make a quick getaway.
  
• ◑ Bag snatchers usually head for isolated back streets to investigate the bags they have stolen. DON’T FOLLOW!
  
• ◑ Some bag snatchers use knives to cut bag straps. DON’T tangle with them.
  
• ◑ If it comes to a struggle—let the bag go!
  
• ◑ Bags left by automatic doors on public transport may be snatched—often just as the doors are closing.
  

REMEMBER

If you carry EVERYTHING in one bag—your money, identification, keys, cheque book, credit cards—then you will lose EVERYTHING in one go!

TOILETS

When using public lavatories, if there is a gap beneath the door, keep your feet tucked in – don’t stretch them out. A very rare form of attack is for people’s feet to be grabbed and pulled, causing them to fall off the toilet! The door is then kicked in and they are robbed.

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  Only use public toilets when absolutely necessary.
  
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  Use toilets in shops, restaurants, public houses, trains – anywhere you can.
  
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  If anything – a coin, a roll of toilet paper, a glove – appears under the partition between cubicles, kick it back with your foot. Do NOT bend down to pass it back with your hand. While you do so someone may reach over the partition and steal your coat or bag from the hook on the door.
  

PUBLIC PHONES

When you use public telephones, always keep an eye on – or preferably, keep hold of – your belongings. At night, beware of people approaching from behind – especially if you are using a telephone in a kiosk or booth which would restrict your escape. If nothing else is handy, use the phone as a weapon to defend yourself. Go for the attacker’s face.

If you’re in a phone box and someone appears to be loitering (not just waiting to use the phone), call the police.

PICKPOCKETS

Most of us have seen pickpockets operating in the movies, or even magicians performing a very clever ‘sleight of hand’. Pickpockets may be clumsy opportunists – similar to bag snatchers – or they may be extremely clever and organized thieves. Some work alone, others may have accomplices who distract you in some way. Some are quite capable of removing watches, rings and jewellery – and taking wallets/cheque books/credit cards from obvious pockets is child’s play.

Pockets and bags which fasten with zips or buttons are a good idea, although not 100 per cent secure. ‘Velcro’ (press tape fastenings) are unlikely to be opened without your knowing what’s going on. You may hear them being pulled apart.

• ◑ NEVER ‘wear’ your wallet in an exposed back pocket!
  
• ◑ Avoid crowds—if you can’t, make sure you keep your wits about you. If you carry a bag, keep it in front of you.
  
• ◑ Don’t join crowds around street gamblers or casual street salesmen. Pickpockets may work with them to remove more of your possessions/cash!
  
• ◑ If someone bumps heavily and rudely into you, causing you to ricochet off onto a ‘kinder’ person who smoothes your clothes, touches you very reassuringly and asks if you are OK before melting quickly into the crowd, you have probably just been robbed.
  
• ◑ ‘Domestic’ arguments may be staged—as you go to help (or stare in amazement) you are NOT concentrating.
  
• ◑ USE YOUR COMMON SENSE! Be aware of yourself and your surroundings at ALL times.
  

RAPE

A lot has been written about rape—a very common crime which has been known to ruin lives. Under half of reported cases of rape of women are perpetrated by men who are total strangers to the victim. Most involve men who are slightly or even well-known to the victim—rape can and does occur within ‘relationships’ and marriage. Many cases of rape are not reported—sometimes through great embarrassment or genuine fear that the authorities may be unsympathetic.

In some countries—the US for example—a rape may be considered ‘self-precipitated’ if a woman has (for any reason) exposed herself to risk. Rape and the after-effects of rape are terribly complicated.

There are usually two widely different accounts as to how the event took place. Women must try very hard NOT to develop the feeling that ‘all men are rapists!’ This, like being too frightened of muggers to set foot outside your home, is no way to live. Women must try to take the initiative, by maintaining a positive attitude, staying alert and avoiding situations which involve risk.

A lot of the preceding advice already given in this chapter is relevant here, but there are more points to consider:

• ◑ Many rapes are NOT spontaneous. They may be planned, for instance, by a man who knows or casually ‘knows’ the victim or regularly sees her walking to and from work.
  
• ◑ Rape may occur as a ‘last resort’ in an argument—even within marriage. Such rape should also be reported, especially if very violent. ‘Domestic’ violence could easily escalate. If rape is used as a ‘last resort’—what is the next stage? Further bodily harm?
  
• ◑ Rape is more common in summer than in winter, and—like any ‘street’ attack—at night. The chances of outdoor and indoor attack are equal.
  
• ◑ Many attacks occur in the rapist’s or the victim’s home.
  
• ◑ Always check lifts before entering. If you live in a block of flats, don’t travel in a lift at night. If a stranger gets in with you, keep within reach of the alarm button. Avoid eye-to-eye contact. Be polite, but not friendly if forced to speak.
  
• ◑ Many men cannot tell the difference (it seems) between friendliness and sexual invitations. If in doubt, you must avoid the company of men (especially when alone) or try to develop a fairly firm, ‘cold’ way of dealing with them.
  

IF AN ATTACK SEEMS LIKELY

You must try to think clearly and act quickly. Assess your potential attacker. Is he armed? Is he drunk? Is he strong? Could you reason with him?

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  Use avoidance ploys or simple self-defence techniques outlined later.
  
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  Buy time. Try to adopt a calm, confident manner. Invite him to your home promising whatever you think will please him.
  
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  DON’T actually take him home (but keep him believing that you are). Lead him to a busy area, run to the nearest point of safety—an off licence, a wine bar, a public house. Scream if you think it’s necessary to call attention to the potential attacker.
  
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  Arrange to meet him another time. Make him believe you mean it. Give him a false telephone number.
  
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  If he appears to be losing interest, keep chatting to him to distract him from his purpose.
  

Many women are (understandably) nervous on their own in cities. A woman may be frightened if you stare (even admiringly) or try to strike up a conversation in a lonely spot. If you spot a woman alone on public transport, DON’T sit close to her. You CAN tell if you are making someone nervous by walking behind them. Cross the street to allay their fears. If you give a woman real cause for fear, she may take steps to defend herself.

During a violent assault

• ◑ You are being hurt already. Use as much violence as you can without making your situation worse.
  
• ◑ Bite.
  
• ◑ If you can reach the man’s testicles—grab, twist and pull. He may at first think you are ‘responding’ favourably.
  
• ◑ Try and tear out hair, pull off a button, tear off a shred of fabric or fluff from a jumper—anything which might lead to the identification of your attacker.
  

WARNING

If the assault is particularly violent and the attacker is armed or very strong, it may be safer not to struggle.