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Any violent crime is one of the most terrifying experiences that you can face. These are crimes that are unpredictable, life-threatening and can leave you feeling traumatised for life. Incidents such as assaults, muggings and house break-ins are common, and the fear of being a victim is a lived reality for most people.

Even though eliminating the risk isn’t in your control, you can still take proactive steps to ensure you’re not an easy target. Criminality tends to thrive when you’re distracted. Read on to discover how to reduce your chances of becoming a target of violent crimes.

Understand How Criminals Think

To outsmart a threat, you first need to understand how it works. Criminals are opportunistic. They don’t always plan extensively; instead, they look for quick wins and easy targets. Someone distracted by their phone, walking alone in a poorly lit street, or showing visible signs of wealth is far more appealing to a criminal than a person who appears alert, confident, and prepared.

Project Alertness in Public Spaces

The way you carry yourself sends a silent message to potential attackers. Someone who walks with their head up, scanning their surroundings, looks far less vulnerable than someone shuffling with slouched shoulders or glued to a phone screen.

Here are a few ways to show alertness:

• Keep your head up and make it clear that you’re paying attention to your environment.
• Scan your surroundings frequently without looking paranoid; check behind you and ahead of you regularly.
• Walk with purpose and move briskly, as though you know exactly where you’re going.
• Limit distractions and avoid earphones, loud music, or texting while walking in public spaces.

Be Strategic About Where You Go and When

In most cases, violent crimes are linked to location and timing. This is why high-risk areas include deserted streets, isolated parking lots, alleys, or public spaces at night where visibility is poor. As a result, if you must walk or drive through risky areas:

• Stick to well-lit routes.
• Avoid shortcuts, as even a quiet alley that saves you five minutes can increase your risk tenfold.
• Travel in groups since criminals are less likely to approach people who are not alone.
• Be mindful of nightlife risks, especially during weekends, month-end paydays, and holiday seasons, as these often see spikes in violent crime, particularly when alcohol is involved.

Protect Your Digital and Financial Footprint

Not all targeting starts in person. Criminals often observe people online before deciding whether to strike. Sharing your location on social media, displaying expensive purchases, or posting holiday trips can make you a prime target.

These are some practical tips to help you protect your digital and financial footprint:

• Avoid geotagging your posts, especially while you’re still at that location.
• Keep luxury discreet because flaunting jewellery, gadgets, or cars can attract unwanted attention.
• Secure your digital identity, as hackers may access your information to stalk you offline.

Manage Your Valuables Smartly

Criminals often look for material gains. A phone, laptop, handbag, or jewellery can make you more appealing as a target. The goal is not to live without these things but to manage how you carry and display them. Most importantly, the less visible your valuables are, the less incentive they have to approach you.

Secure Yourself While Driving

Hijackings and smash-and-grab crimes are everyday realities on our roads. Vehicles, especially in traffic or at intersections, are hotspots for criminals. If you feel unsafe, drive to a well-lit, populated area or a police station before stopping or use the FREE-to-use iER App to send an alert to police units who can escort you to your home.

How to protect yourself while on the road:

• Keep windows closed and doors locked, and avoid creating easy access.
• Stay alert at traffic lights to avoid being distracted while stationary.
• Leave space between cars and allow enough room to manoeuvre if needed.
• Be cautious of strangers signalling you to help them because criminals sometimes stage breakdowns to lure drivers.

Invest in Personal Safety Skills

Sometimes, despite precautions, you may still face danger. Knowing how to react can mean the difference between escaping unharmed and suffering life-threatening consequences. While the goal isn’t to fight but to survive, having confidence to protect yourself can reduce panic and provide adequate measures to save yourself.

These are some personal safety skills to consider:

• Basic self-defence training, even simple moves, can buy you time to escape.
• Situational awareness drills include practising the identification of exits, suspicious behaviour, and safe havens.
• Verbal de-escalation skills, which ensure calm and controlled communication, can sometimes defuse aggression.
• Download the FREE-to-use iER App to access nationwide local emergency services at the tap of a button.

Reducing your risk of becoming a victim of violent crime is about awareness, preparedness, and smart choices. You can’t control the existence of crime, but you can control how you move, how you present yourself, and how you respond. Staying connected to reliable emergency services like the FREE-to-use iER App can ensure you take back your control when faced with life-threatening situations.