Failure in Situational awareness

I have worked as a security guard for a little over 12 years. I basically watch people for a living and I'm pretty good at it.

Over time I've observed certain behavior patterns that when I see them I know that person is up to something.

If I see somebody just aimlessly loitering someplace where there's really no reason for them to be loitering they're almost always doing something they're not supposed to be doing.



According to almost all of the witnesses this guy was wandering around in one section of that store for 20 minutes and he never got more than a couple of feet away from the emergency exit.

Another one that is somewhat specific to being a security guard is when just my presence changes their behavior. If the aimless loiterer watches me come around the corner making my rounds and he takes off he was up to something.


The last one IMO is the most important
If someone is paying an inordinate amount of attention to you, you had better be paying attention to them because it's been my experience but they're sizing you up and deciding whether or not you're a mark. Even if it's just to put the mooch on you for a couple of bucks.

 

Sheesh, look at all the dumb AS**'S walking around, pumping gas, crossing the road, and on and on with a cell phone. Stupid! Or the idiot that runs with ear buds and do not have a clue what is approaching. Virtually giving up all their natural senses that alert for danger. It is a chronic problem
I was a Cross Country Runner since Middle School. Continued competitive running into my 50's and coached runners for years. I get really serious about cell phones and ear buds. Just bad news.
Also advocated some type of protection when running. Most especially for women.
We have a Forrest trail that goes for about 10 miles. Can be very lonesome at times yet some of these women would run alone on this trail. Down right scary. I have preached against this for years, not to mention a number of rapes have already occurred on this trail.

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS-probably number one on the list to save your life.

 

You could have noted the time before he got to you & just told him. It's not he has a job to go to, he just wanted to know about what time it was. Like within 15 min or so. It's always good to have a working idea of what time it is anyway.

 

Never been 'interviewed', have you? The time isn't what his asking was about.

 

There is the way things should be and the way things are. Obviously most people have empathy for the homeless and manyy just got a bad turn in life. But on the flip side is that they can be very dangerous. Mental disorders, serious drug addiction, criminals on the run etc. High risk. I would have advise a runner especially a female to take off on the run right away. Seconds could mean disaster. No need to worry about being polite. It does not take long for a knife or razor blade to come out quickly. What time is it? Sounds suspiciously like the old "do you have a light routine" get the victim to look away for a second and then strike.

 

talk loud, be confident, but don't forget there are crazy people who have no intention, but will if some rude jackass tells them to F-off about the time, especially when they are wearing a watch. My experience is that crazy/drugged out is more common than robber, and its much less drama to be polite to crazy/drugged.
Speaking in loud confident friendly tones is about the best you can do.

 

He didn't want to know what time it was he wanted to stop the guy so he could get something from him.

Asking for the time evolves into "I'm down on my luck can you give me a handout?" or a mugging attempt.

 

I was out walking my dog one day and one of these idiots actually walked up to me on the sidewalk with a cell phone in his hand and asked if he could use mine.

I'm pretty sure I didn't even bother to answer him.

That tends to go away the second or third time one of them tries to kill you

 

I agree with others. If you feel the need to respond at all, a simple glance at the watch, call out the time to him, but KEEP ON MOVING. A polite wave of the hand and "Sorry, dude, can't stop!" and KEEP ON MOVING. Ignore him completely but KEEP ON MOVING. Anything that gets you to stop sets you up as a target; for an assault, for a panhandle attempt, or for a longer conversation. Once you allow him to close the distance, you've set yourself up.

 

FIFY

 

IME I have never seen a homeless person who wasn't armed with something . I've also never seen a homeless person who hasn't (hadn't?) been in multiple violent encounters.

I've said this several times before but the homeless population in Colorado Springs attack each other all the time. It doesn't make the news because they're homeless.

There used to be an old wino named Mumbles who lived down town. Mumbles had Hepatitis. If you didn't mess with him, he wouldn't mess with you but if you trifled with him he'd bite you.

The point I want to make is that most of us have an ingrained inhibition against violence, most homeless people I've encountered don't and it's important to take that into account when you deal with them.

 

Yall better watch how you talk or people will think you're a bunch of home-less-a-phobes.

In keeping with the recent trend of using WAY more words than necessary to define something, I believe the new, correct description is;

"a person experiencing homelessness."

Since I'm not a LEO or a social worker, I avoid these people.

 

I am.

AKA a Street Rat

 

I'm surprised nobody mentioned, or maybe I'm just too old fashioned...

"Hey buddy, you got the time?" is one of the oldest clichés of someone looking for a mark, and a phrase that always puts me on edge anyway. In the old days, the well-to-do were often fond of wearing expensive, ornate watches. I'm talkin way back in the 90s and whatnot...

Anyway, ask someone the time, get a look at his watch. See if he looks like he'd be worth picking over. Also, as most of you HAVE picked up, it gets you looking at your watch (or smartphone, these days) and not at your new "buddy"....

So yeah, "Hey do you have the time?" from a random person on the street ALWAYS puts me on guard.

 

Urban Outdoorsmen and Women.

 

There was a woman who was attacked in Palmer Park which is a large part in the center of Colorado Springs about a year ago. The original news stories said she was jogging with her earbuds in and the guy ran up from behind her and knocked her down.

Apparently there were witnesses that came around the trail and the guy took off. I found a couple of video news stories about the attack but oddly enough none of them mentioned that she was wearing earbuds

 

“How you treat the least of these among my brothers is how you treated me”

I would much prefer to approach the situation in a way that shows kindness, dignity, and respect whilst also staying safe.

 

Yeah, Jesus probably didn't conduct robbery interviews.