I try to stay alert while loading groceries and such in parking lots, but the other day a panhandler suddenly appeared next to my window while I was about to start the car. He was a harmless mooch, but it has me parking away from everyone else now and loading the back seat when I only have a few items.
I’ve heard people mention situational awareness, but now I’m interested in hearing some how to tips.
I came across this Link, but I’d like to hear more tips on being better aware.
If that moocher had been a bad guy, I’d have been in trouble. Incidentally, I don’t pocket carry anymore.

Why don’t you carry any longer ?

you've heard people ?
since 1999 maybe?

When getting groceries, I park as far away from anything else that a bandit may use in a surprise assault. I don't park by the building, by the dumpster corral or near other cars, if possible. In short, I try to put as much open space between me & anyone who might accost me.

When getting gas, I leave my driver's door open & move to the rear of my truck to survey my surroundings. This way I'm not able to be caught between my truck, the pump, & the hose, with only one way out. The reason I leave the driver's door open is because it provides another barrier or slow-down point to someone coming at me.

At the ATM with card at the ready, I fold in my driver's side mirror, radio turned off, & pull in VERY close beside the machine to do my business. I leave my truck in drive so I only have to let off the brake to roll forward (doing like DeNiro in Heat) to thwart anyone who might get an arm in. Total time in & out probably about a minute.

quote:

Originally posted by DEC505:
Why don’t you carry any longer ?

Oh, I still carry, just not in a pocket while sitting or wearing a seat belt.

Keep your head on a swivel and keep your ears open.

We were in a bar the other night having a bite to eat. We know the place well. Guy at the bar was sketchy at best. Not a normal type customer at this place. He seemed out of place. He had a long fixed blade strapped to his lower led. I saw it right away. My spiddy sense was way up. But not of the chart. My wife noticed him and we looked at each other so I knew she was aware of him. We had a nice meal. When we left I told her. Did you notice the big knife on his led. She said nope.
On the way out one of the employee's was having a conversation with him about not loitering as he was done at the bar and was just hanging around.

I left my pistol in the car and thought about going and getting it. probably should of but all turned out fine. But yes, always be aware of your surroundings. And keep telling your self that.

I worked in junkie central in Tacoma and had a number of interesting interactions that, errr... drastically increased my situational awareness.

Things like:
Some lady walking up to my car window and knocking on it while I was at a stop sign waiting for it to be clear enough to turn left onto a busy street. I didn't hang out to see what she wanted, and I didn't roll the window down.

At the same gas station next to the same rent-a-hooker motel, I was fueling up and some itchy critter crossed the street and made a bee-line for me, keeping his eyes down and wearing a hood. I saw him coming, and when he got to about ten feet, I held out my left hand in the "stop" signal, shook my head "no" as I drew back my coat, preparing to draw on him. I didn't brandish, it was still covered by my shirt, but he got the message and, never having spoken a word, turned on his heel and walked away. This was a week after the gas station owner, a crusty old Korean guy, got beaten in his own parking lot by a group of dudes that strong-armed him for cartons of cigarettes.

So many more stories, but the point is, being aware and paying attention to gut feelings or instinct can save you from problems you don't need.

"Keep your head on a swivel" can lose its meaning if repeated often enough, but do keep your head up and stay aware of what's going on around you. Look at people. Notice something about every person you see. Try to gauge intent. Think proactively, and you can maybe build a few critical extra seconds into your response if something does happen.

I've finally been able to develop the habit of looking up and around me when out in public, something I didn't focus on until the last five years or so. Just try to be more observant of anything and everything.
When I do that I also see how oblivious most people are to their surroundings and vulnerable to all sorts of things. Not just criminals but moving cars, trip & fall hazards, bumping into other people and objects, etc.

I am amazed at how many people walk places with headphones in and their eyes on the ground or on tbeir phones.
That makes criminals Very happy.

Bruce

The first time I lived in Houston, I lived down in the Heights which was in the midst of a big rebirth. Therefore, there was a large mix of people from the professional who wanted a short commute downtown to the hippy artist to the 4th generation hoodrat to the panhandler.

The nearest grocery store was old and about 2 years before it was transformed from ghetto to upscale. Even in broad daylight there always seemed to be a panhandler or two near the entrance.

I was driving a Silverado at the time and it was an '01 so the extended cab had suicide doors rather than regular doors. My practice for loading groceries in the back was to open the driver's door, open the rear suicide door all the way, close the driver's door, and pull the cart close to me. I lost my situational awareness and next thing I know this giant panhandler (6'6" to 6'8") is standing by the driver's door mirror asking for money. I'm trapped because the suicide door is open so there is no room between the door and the car next to me and the giant is blocking the only egress. I bladed off, reached for my right hip, and very loudly told him to get the fuck out of here. He had the situational awareness to realize this wasn't a guy reaching for his wallet so he scurried off. I learned an important lesson on maintaining situational awareness while unloading the grocery cart that I still think of a decade later.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
you've heard people ?
since 1999 maybe?

Whenever I find something out that I never knew, I think that I may be the only one who knows it. Imagine my rapid disappointment when I found out this is not so,
still, it is a good feeling, for a while.

Here are some of the best stuff I've seen. Pat McNamara is a former SF guy and really knows his stuff. He has a book called Sentinel - all about being prepared when you and your family go out. He also has some videos related to it. He may seem like he should be on the WWF but he is for real.

I don't know how to embed this video but here is the link. It's short, only about 3 minutes. Part 1 https://youtu.be/E9aVGok8eSw

Part 2 https://youtu.be/8BtrR85h8n8


Several more are available on youtube. He also has a lot of good shooting drills.

Look into Craig Douglas's Managing Unknown Contacts (MUC)

Greg Ellifritz has some great material on the subject

I would also highly recommend taking Dr. William Aprill's Unthinkable! class. It's 8 hours of classroom on understanding violent criminal behavior. I was so impressed the first time I heard him that I convinced my wife to attend. She's from the big city, carries a gun every day and has a bit of formal training under her belt. She agrees it's a very worthwhile class for anyone, whether they carry a self defense firearm or not.

All 3 can easily be located via a Google search.

Rory Miller’s Meditations on Violence is also useful

If we're getting enough stuff to need to load the car with a back turned, I take my wife. She is also armed. One watches, one loads. Same with exiting/entering the vehicle. She's stove up and gets in slow, so I stand and watch until she is seated and in a position to draw (car holster.)

Thanks everyone, especially Scot, Brad and Aglifter. You’ve got me busy watching videos and visiting websites. I’ve even ordered Miller’s book.

The lack of situational awareness from people these days is ridiculous. Most are too focused on their smart phones and useless conversations than thinking about their safety. And we have a lot of pan handlers out here, too.

quote:

Originally posted by RNshooter:
I am amazed at how many people walk places with headphones in and their eyes on the ground or on tbeir phones.
That makes criminals Very happy.

Bruce

I live across the street from an apartment complex dominated by college students and younger people. The gym is located at the center of their complex and while I walk my dogs at night, it’s very common to see young people doing that. While the street can be busy with cars driving to/from their complex as well as my subdivision and the subdivision behind us, that’s still not a good reason to believe a criminal won’t strike.

my mother was shopping at christmas, busy store. She was looking at the shelf for something and turned around and her cart was gone. She couldn't understand why someone would steal her cart.

I told her because her coupon book looks like a purse so they were after that. Fortunately she carries a tiny little purse and it was strapped across her but they couldn't see that with her coat on and her coupons looking like a purse. But it's amazing how many women leave their purse unattended in a a shopping cart