Female Attacked - Looking for ideas to help her protect herself in the future

[capnswole]

Hello all long time reader new poster. Someone I care about was attacked in her apartment last night early in the morning. She forgot to lock her door (lesson learned) and a male entered and attacked her. Fortunately for her she was able to fight him off and eventually gave up and walked out. When the police showed up they said that this is the exact same thing that happened in the same apartment complex about three weeks ago. Unfortunately I dont think that the other girl was able to fight him off though. They suspect that he lives in the complex himself and think that both girls were being watched over time and that he knew their schedules and a lot about them. What I am looking for are good ideas to help keep her safe in the future. I am worried because she lives alone and works at a hospital so she often comes and goes alone in the wee hours. Things I have come up with...

1. lock your doors - this one has already been taken to heart
2. keep head on a swivel
3. have some means of defending herself - she has never been shooting but wants to learn, so I am going to take her. I know you cant just throw a gun in someones purse who is unfamiliar, but I think that she could benefit from the proper training and gain proficiency. Ideally I would want her to get a ccw.
4. Move - this d-bag is still at large and probably will still be keeping tabs on her.
5. Mace/stun gun
6. she allready has a dog, but it is the size of a small stuffed animal and i do not think she would be up for getting another larger one.
7. Tell the apartment management what is going on and demand higher security. It is a gated complex, but one gate is always left open. But if he lives there this doesnt do much good.

That is about all I have right now. Luckily she was not hurt. Like I said I am looking for good ideas to keep her safe in the future. What I can do is limited by the fact that I live a few hours away but I am trying my best. Thanks.

 

[Regolith]

Have her visit www.corneredcat.com

The website was designed by one of the members here, and its geared particularly for women. Lots of good suggestions there.

 

[silverlance]

been there. i gave the girl a remington model 11 shotgun, took her 45minutes to become proficient with it. twomonths later i got it back unfired and she had a nice ar15 rifle of her own.

you dont need a lot of time to learn how to use a gun.

 

[Zundfolge]

Also have her check the local sex offender registries ... good chance if its someone in the complex that he's done this before.

 

[pax]

Have her swing past www.AWARE.org and also www.nononsenseselfdefense.com -- the first is an excellent resource for women dealing with crime issues, and the second is Marc MacYoung's site which addresses some of the basic questions about how crime happens and what people can do to avoid being chosen as the victim (see especially the page about the Five Stages of Crime).

pax

 

[BridgeWalker]

In addition to the defense suggestions, if your relationship allows it, do your lever best to make she gets some counseling. That kind of thing really messes with one's head, often long-term. The quicker she can sort things out in counseling the less likely she is to have future strtegies clouded by panic and bad memories that can also mess with the rest of her life.

 

[Oana]

Depending on budget:

Cameras (so if he does come back or wander around, he's caught on tape)
Alarm system - not silent, but loud and screaming. Do they make ones with "panic buttons" you can push?
Fortify windows as well as doors

On the everyday level:

Sensible shoes, particularly at night. Hospital probably = sensible shoes already. Doesn't mean not pretty, but there are pretty shoes that you can run in, and ones you can't. The worst offenders should be relegated to daytime.

She also needs to know that she absolutely did the right thing. I'm sure you've said that already, but it bears repeating. All this is to bolster the great defense she's already made and to keep it from getting quite so close to home (in home!) next time.

 

[jpwilly]

38spl comes to mind.

 

[Eyesac]

Cheebis, I'd be freakin out if someone came in my house fought w/ me and was still at large. Let her stay w/ you for a day or two...

First chance she gets, take her out and familiarize her with the firearm of her choice!

 

[sm]

My reply is based on more than one experience, and involvement with this type of situation.

My gut says:

- Suspect has a Master Key that fits all the locks in complex.

- More than likely has already been in apt and cased schedules, appointments, and gleaned other information. Check to make sure any windows have not been unlocked, and Play-Doh, Silly Putty, or similar inserted into door to "impede" locks from actually locking. Like the cheesy bedroom/bathroom locks.

-A "Trophy" has already been taken from Apt, as other "trophies" have been taken.
It might be underwear, a pair of earrings, pendant, locket...

There is more, now the prevention.

New Dead Bolts.
Get the Multi-Pack with one key fits all; one that requires a key to open from inside, no turnbolts for interior - never, screw the Fire Code -especially if any door has paned glass.
Get the "wedge" triangle shaped metal pc that is hammered in to keep a screwdriver, pry-bar, from into where lock access door jamb.

First lock one goes on front door, second on back door, and repeat for bathroom and bedroom doors.

While getting locks, get the Door Stop Wedges, keep near door, and easy to kick under door to keep from being forced open, or opened further when answering door.

Nails for windows. Carefully drill holes in frame, window closed position, insert nails.
Patio Door, Be extremely careful, still with door closed, look at the top and bottom corner of the door that moves, that is opposite where closed.
Drill a hole through frame - go slow, watch that glass- still drill through and into track, top and bottom.
Insert Nails, door cannot be lifted up and out of track.

Rearrange furniture in front room, having been in , they know layout, change this to throw them off and buy time.
Swap cars with a trusted friend, work a different shift ...or...


UC Lady LEO to be a GF staying over. College Roomate, Going through a Divorce, whatever "reason" still the idea is multi fold.
*she is not alone
*get one to pretend to be "ditsy" or "loose" and let this person get lax, small head often thinks before big head does. Let this guy make a mistake.

Air Horn, as most likely the power boxes and phone connects are outside in a row, with Apt # on them. Easy to power off one apt, and make things more easy.
Air horns are Loud! And will signal help, kept some of these handy.

Not uncommon for these types to be inside waiting to be in Apt, and wait for one to arrive home...Master keys for Pest Control, HVAC, and other Maint,Folks.

Weapons?
Since this is a gun forum and all, yeah, whatever.
Baseball bat, broom stick, can of Brake Cleaner, Bug Spray, 3 C cell Mag-light...

Then again I have lost count on the number of single shot 20 ga in Youth size and Model 10s used for this situation.
Gun was NOT the first thing I and we did.

Tidbits *shrug*

We stopped threats, and caught folks, from sex offenders to two kids that went after moms for not bailing them out of jail.
I look good in a Pink T shirt, Apron, and cut off blue jean shorts...
Did you know a Glock 26 will bounce off carpet? They will...Model 29s tend to have these fall out of hands real damn fast!

$50 will get the Maint person with master keys to make you a copy.
Especially if you mention ...well...sharing some of the fun.
I bought Master Keys from such folks...

Guns are great, just a helluva lot more to this stuff than guns and weapons.
If she has a gun, check to make sure it still has a firing pin...or the gun itself still there.
One guy set up his gal with a gun with no firing pin, "rock-n-roll"... trade the girl getting raped, by 3 dudes to pay for dope.

See, I have had myself locked up in a cell next to sex offenders and rapists...to listen.
One went in, removed a firing pin..., and shared how he chose folks...

Trophies.
With the price of Gold and Precious metals up, the economy as it is, and folks going nuts...
Contact anyone that is paying for scrap metals.

UC LEO lady can leave a locket ( they seem to like lockets) engraved a certain way...take pictures, and have on file, ready to use to ID.
Any pc of Jlry, or even a inexpensive watch and have it engraved on the inside of back of watch case...

Rolex's have the serial number on the 6 0'clock end where bracelet attaches..., not seen until bracelet removed - record that number, if this gal has a Rolex...
Record numbers of other watches too...

.

 

[biscuitninja]

I have a small camera system that take information 12 hrs at a time. Its a home brew setup that writes to a jump drive. So this way I can take it anywhere and anybody can read it. The camera is a cheapie low light level unit. It can and does record everybody and everyone. Anyways good luck
-bix

 

[cpaspr]

One thing that jumped out at me.

In the original post, you mentioned:

I know you cant just throw a gun in someones purse who is unfamiliar, but I think that she could benefit from the proper training and gain proficiency.

Even if she learns to use a gun proficiently and gets a CC permit, she needs to NOT carry it in a purse. The purse is too easily taken away, and even if it isn't, access to a purse gun is generally comparatively slow compared to on-body carry.

I'm only addressing this one statement. SM has already hit the other stuff I thought of (and a whole lot more that I didn't think of).

 

[ilbob]

She forgot to lock her door

How can anyone "forget" to lock their door? My wife likes to watch Friends reruns. I just about go ballistic when visitors show up and just casually walk in through the unlocked door.

I vote for either a crime of opportunity, or someone knew she was prone to levaing her door unlocked.

 

[capnswole]

thanks for all the input i really appreciate it. you all had some great info. hopefully they can catch the dude.

 

[Deanimator]

Even if she learns to use a gun proficiently and gets a CC permit, she needs to NOT carry it in a purse. The purse is too easily taken away, and even if it isn't, access to a purse gun is generally comparatively slow compared to on-body carry.

Not necessarily. A cheap IWB holster affixed to the inside of the purse will ensure that the gun is always in the same place, and easily drawn. Walking with her hand in the purse on the butt of the gun is easily done and inconspicuous. There are also purpose built purses intended for CCW.

 

[Raijin]

I believe the first thing they teach females for self defense situations like this is "grab, twist and pull". Just saying that makes me cringe and makes sitting down highly uncomfortable.

 

[crebralfix]

Going out on a limb here...but, in terms of gear and training, a gun is not the only answer. She should also have a knife on her at all times. She should also train in knifing.

It's not pleasant training; it's more visceral than gun training. It's also physically difficult. However, it is immensely valuable and a three inch folding knife can go places a gun cannot legally go.

Now that she's had a violent encounter, she should seriously consider regular training in physical fitness, knife, gun, and empty hand.

 

[wayneinFL]

Even if she learns to use a gun proficiently and gets a CC permit, she needs to NOT carry it in a purse. The purse is too easily taken away, and even if it isn't, access to a purse gun is generally comparatively slow compared to on-body carry.

Not necessarily. A cheap IWB holster affixed to the inside of the purse will ensure that the gun is always in the same place, and easily drawn. Walking with her hand in the purse on the butt of the gun is easily done and inconspicuous. There are also purpose built purses intended for CCW.

A friend from work is in the process of getting her CCW. A coworker and I voiced our concerns about keeping a gun in a purse, that it doesn't always stay on you, and can be stolen or misplaced. She assured us the purse goes everywhere she does. She picked out a gun based mostly on how "cute" it was and whether it fit in her purses.

A couple of weeks ago she walked into a gas station to pay, and watched someone drive up and grab her purse out of the car. she complained she had lost her D.L. and $100.

First thing I asked her was, "Now aren't you glad you didn't have your gun in there, too?"

 

[Robert Hairless]

The NRA sponsors a course entitled "Refuse to be a Victim" that is aimed at people--especially women--in your friend's situation. It is not a firearms course. It stresses the development of awareness and avoidance techniques.

 

[Barbara]

I'm going to disagree on the purse thing. It's not the best option and maybe not even a good option but in some cases its the only option and better than not carrying at all.

That only applies if proper caution is used to make sure the purse and gun stay in your control at all times.