Recently in my research I became familiar with the crime -prevention system of Marc MacYoung and his 5-Stages-of-Violent-Crime. This system checklists what criminals go through before performing a violent attack. What caught my eye are the labels for the five stages. I like labels; labels help objectify what we should be looking for . Having an awareness of how criminals think and try to set up a potential victim usually by some type of distraction is crucial in avoiding a confrontation and becoming a victim of violence.
This is on what the Refuse To Be A Victim seminar program is based. Early recognition of an evolving crime within the first 2 to 3 stages usually allows the target to divorce themself from the situation relatively easily and safely. In the later stages when the criminal has gotten “close” either physically and/or emotionally, or has initiated the actual crime it is more difficult to escape from the scene safely.http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/five_stages.html
The book Gift of Fear by Gaven DeBecker was recommended by one of my teachers. In addition to discussing the gift of intuition and how we should “listen” to it, the author discusses 8 Pre-Incident Indicators. These are actually distractions which, if used on you by a stranger, should raise the red-flag that you’re possibly being set-up for a crime. And it would be during the first 2 to 3 Stages of a Violent Crime that the predator would use these strategies. Prudence would dictate that you leave the scene while there are still other people around and you can do this safely and expeditiously.
I invite you to learn more about Marc MacYoung’s 5 Stages of Violent Crime and the 8 common distraction strategies used by criminals in the commission of a crime at my next Refuse To Be A Victim seminar at the B H Wellness Center, 842 Clark Ave., Bristol, CT, on Saturday, May 16, 2015 from 9 AM to 1 PM. Tuition is $30 per student . Please call 860.582.4388 to register or for more details.
Dr. Mike Taz 