The Best Defense Against Crime: You

By John Walsh

Working closely with law enforcement over the past two decades, I’ve learned a lot about the kinds of tricks pulled by fugitives as they try to stay on the run. But I’ve also learned a lot about how to avoid these creeps and keep yourself safe. Since October is Crime Prevention Month, I thought I’d share one of the best tips I know to help keep you from becoming a crime victim: be aware of what’s going on around you. Develop the street smarts to anticipate trouble and avoid it.

It sounds simple, but I’ve seen so many examples of people not noticing potential problems heading their way, because they just weren’t paying attention. A few years ago, we aired a piece on AMW that was a real eye-opener. We hired an actor to stalk a woman, unbeknownst to her but with the cooperation of the woman’s friends. As our hidden cameras followed, this guy showed up everywhere the woman went over the course of a typical day in her life. He walked right past her as she ate lunch at a sidewalk café. He was loitering outside a grocery store as she entered, then exited after shopping. He followed her into a coffee shop and stood in line behind her. Finally, he showed up at her apartment, posing as a flower delivery man. She didn’t hesitate to open the door for him. And when he asked her if she recognized him, she honestly answered “No.” This guy could just as easily have been a real stalker, and his knock on her door could have ended in tragedy, not an embarrassing television interview. I’ll bet she’s noticed everything going on around her since then. And I hope everyone who watched the story saw how important it is to pay attention to the world around you, everywhere you go and in everything you do.

Another recent AMW story also underscored the power of street smarts. It was about a young college student who came home to her off-campus apartment to find the door unlocked, lights off that she usually left on and lights on that she usually left off. She sensed something was wrong, so she immediately left, locked herself inside her car and called 911. The police believe someone may have been hiding in her closet as she moved through the apartment. Had she kept going, instead of being smart enough to back away, who knows what might have happened? As it turns out, the young woman involved in this story now works on our Hotline at America’s Most Wanted. I’m proud of the example she sets!

So, remember: one of the best defenses against crime is your own five senses. I don’t mean for you to go around being suspicious of everything, but I do want you to be aware … and safe.