Classic distraction

Here's a classic distraction technique, involving two or more perpetrators. This incident describes a carjacking, but similar methods is used in thefts and robberies as well.

Story:
California -- The 4:03 p.m. carjacking occurred in a Kmart parking.

A 24-year-old man pulled into the lot in his car Saturday afternoon, when a woman approached and began a conversation, according to Antioch police.

While they spoke, the gunman climbed into the driver's-side passenger door, held a revolver to the back of driver's head and ordered him to empty his pockets.

The gunman then ordered the driver out of the vehicle, which he then stole. The woman fled in another vehicle.

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Loan sharking

In his brilliant book: "The Gift of Fear" - you can read more about it here - Gavin De Becker also refers to what a criminal might do or say to get to his victims.
One of those things is what he calls "Loan Sharking"; offering some kind of help or assistance in order to have the intended victim to perceive some sort of "debt". This help can be anything from carrying bags, or like in this incident, fixing a flat tyre.

Story:
It was late September, 1995, and a 22-year-old woman was leaving a shopping mall in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. About the time she noticed she had a flat, a man approached her and offered to fix it.

The man fixed the flat and then asked the woman for a ride.

Perhaps understandably, the woman was willing to return a favor, but as she and the good Samaritan drove she realized he didn't seem to have any place to go. When the young woman refused to drive any further, the man held a screwdriver to her throat.

Luckily, she escaped and was able to flag down another motorist. The abductor took off in the woman’s car.

The good Samaritan turned screwdriver-wielding kidnapper was a man, recently arrested as a suspect in kidnapping a missing 13-year-old girl, called Kaitlin.

Kaitlin disappeared from the small community that sits between Baton Rouge and New Orleans on Thursday, February 1. She apparently vanished just after getting off her school bus.

The suspect is related to the girl by marriage and lives with his wife in a mobile home behind the girl's family residence.

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More light

Feltham, UK -- At 2:20 p.m. Friday a woman was passing a pub on foot when a car approached and the driver asked her if she had a light.

When the woman replied "no", the suspect continued to ask questions and then grabbed her right wrist, attempting to force her into the car.

After the woman got herself free, the suspect drove off towards Hounslow.

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Got a light?

This is a very common method of approaching, interviewing and distracting a potential victim.
If someone ask for a light, the time, distraction, some small change - anything that would potentially have you take the eyes off the subject in front of you - be aware!

Story:
UK -- A sex beast feared to have raped up to 20 women stole cigarette lighters from them as sick trophies, police believe.

The 43-year-old crack addict pounced on random victims walking in South London. He approached asking if they had a light — then attacked them at knifepoint.

Last night cops put on display the twisted predator’s haul of lighters.

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To gain access

This is a very common method, used to gain access to a residence.

Story:
Ireland -- A man is sought by gardai (Irish police) for an attempted rape in Ferrybank, Graiguecullen on Thursday, between 11:35 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Further information suggests he may have attempted to strike before.

The woman said the man gained entry to the apartment when he claimed to be a plumber. Once inside he pretended to examine a heater before he went into the kitchen and got a knife.

He then pinned the terrified woman to the wall, threatening to kill her if she didn't take her clothes off.

The screams of the intended victim startled her attacker and he fled from the scene.

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Common trick

This is a common ploy, used by carjackers, robbers, rapists and other criminals.
The safest advice is to think twice before stopping where the person/s in the vehicle behind you want you to pull over!

Chula Vista, California -- Police were looking for a man suspected of trying to rape a 19-year-old motorist Tuesday afternoon after she said he feigned an emergency to lure her out of her car.

The female told police she had been driving on Broadway when she noticed a car directly behind her flashing its lights. She pulled over and got out of her car, because she thought there was something wrong with it, police said.

The driver jumped out of his car as soon as she did, she said, then grabbed her and forced her into her rear seat and began fondling her. She said she struggled and pushed him out. Then she locked her doors, and he drove off, police said.

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Another push-in

Kansas -- In Shawnee, an attack happened at 7:25 a.m. at an Apartment complex as a woman was going outside to warm up her car. When she opened her apartment door the man pushed his way inside.

The two struggled, toppling furniture, before the man pinned her. During the melee he said he wanted to have sex with her.

The woman broke free, grabbed a telephone, locked herself in the bathroom and yelled she was calling police. The man had fled when officers arrived.

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Push-in

This is a classical attempt at something commonly called a "push-in".

Story:
Virginia -- A man started following a 21-year-old University of Virginia student as she walked home from a party, a Charlottesville police spokesman said.

"When she opened up the door to her home, he rushed her and tried to force her inside," the spokesman said.

The student's roommate and her boyfriend were inside the home when she arrived and came to her assistance when they heard her screaming, police said.

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School washroom

This is not an uncommon MO, to attack someone inside a washroom - this goes for both genders, adults as well as minors.
Someone can be waiting in one of the stalls, as well as going in after his/their intended victim.

Story:
Canada -- Edmonton public schools are reviewing security measures after a young girl told police she was assaulted in a school washroom, the second such attack reported in a city school in less than a year.

Two Grade 3 girls were in the bathroom at the Victoria School of Visual and Performing Arts on Monday morning when one girl was assaulted by an unshaven man between 20 and 30 years old, police said.Police believe the man entered the bathroom before the girls arrived.

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The secret seconds

Here's another great article about how kidnappers/sexual predators operate. Recommended reading!

Story:
Jacksonville, Florida -- "Right here, here, are scars from the handcuffs. There is a scar there and a scar right there." It's been four years and Heather Kangas still bears the scars of being kidnapped from her bus stop. "I know he lived not even 10 miles down the road from where I was standing. I believed it was like one of those perfect times. There was nobody on the roads, nobody could see."

Police say Timothy Oberlander grabbed Heather handcuffed her and drove off. In audio tapes never released to the public until now. We hear Oberlander admit to a jail house informant why he chose Heather.

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Fake handshake

It's a quite common trap - extending the arm as to give you a handshake. Then the perpetrator may grab your hand and attack you.

Story:
A white male suspect in his mid-50s tried to pull a victim into his car around noon on Oct. 17, UCSF police report.

The UCSF employee, was walking on Judah Street when he heard a man in a passing vehicle honking his horn. The car stopped and the driver asked, “Don’t I know you from somewhere?” while extending his hand as if to greet the victim with a handshake.

The victim then extended his hand to shake hands, at which time the suspect attempted to pull him into his vehicle. The victim was able to strike the suspect with his free hand and pull away from the suspect.

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