Intuition - a textbook example

Trusting your instincts when followed
Illustration photo, from sxc.hu

From Tulsa Oklahoma, here's a textbook example of why you should always pay attention to your surroundings and listen to your instincts/gut feeling when you get this "something isn't quite right here".

It is really impressive to see how this woman does everything right in handling this potentially dangerous situation - read it carefully and learn from it!

She got off work Thursday night, went home, opened the garage door and, as she does each night, took a moment to look around.
"When I turned around to check, I felt somebody was there. He looked me straight in the eye," Keely said.
Keely quickly realized she had been followed. She put the garage door back down and pulled out of her neighborhood, hoping maybe he was just lost, but he followed her.

What's your take on this article? Also, do you have similar experiences like this with using your awareness and trusting your instincts?

Peppers spray - MMA combo

MMA - Illustration, from Flicker.com

OK, so it wasn't the MMA (mixed martial arts) alone that did the trick - a healthy doze of pepper spray was part of the self-defense combo.

Still, it is no doubt that learning martial arts can be of great help when you suddenly find yourself in a dangerous situation like the California based woman here did.

Also, it is definitely a major equalizer to have access to some sort of weapon - here a can of pepper spray.

A Sanger woman used mixed martial arts skills on a man claiming to be a door-to-door salesman.
It was around noon Thursday, when Mayra Villanueva heard the doorbell ring. She looked out and saw it was a man dressed as a Dish Network consultant.
She opened the door and that's when he threw a punch, and tried to get into the house.

Anyone else having good or bad experiences with using martial arts and/or pepper spray for self-defense? Feel free to comment below!

Door-to-door dangers

During a period of eight months houstonpress.com have investigated door-to-door magazine sales across the country.

They say the industry has seen at least three murders and one attempted murder; one stabbing, one rape and two attempted rapes; one vehicle fatality and one attempted abduction of a 13-year-old girl.

My suggestion is that you take the time to read this article in full, it's shocking to say the least.

Your home, your castle?

Your home may not always be your castle.

Now I'm not saying it is dangerous to be at home - far from it. What I am saying is that we tend to worry about sexual assaults by strangers outside - and forget that we are basically at greater risks at home.

You can read more about the statistical evidence and other facts here.

Stories:
In a North Philadelphia neighborhood, several sex assaults and burglaries occurred during one week, according to myfoxphilly.com. Over three days, three women were attacked, according to reports.

Police said each of the assaults happened in the early morning hours against women, alone at their residences. In each of the cases, the attackers reportedly entered the homes through unlocked doors or screened windows.

Also, a 40-year-old woman told how a man followed her into her apartment building in Center City (Philadelphia) around 1:30 a.m. Saturday. The suspect allegedly forced her to the ground and choked her. He also threatened to kill her and attempted to sexually assault her. The intended victim was able to fight the assailant off, police said.

In an earlier case from Philadelphia (July, 2007), two women were sexually assaulted in upscale Philadelphia neighborhoods. Police believed the attackers entered the homes through open doors.

"I'm shocked because it's always been a safe neighborhood," another woman said at the time.

Resourceful 'Batboy'

Arizona -- In January, abcnews.go.com reported about a 14-year-old boy who alone at home when a burglar broke into the house.

When Michael heard the intruder break into the Mesa home, he barely had time to hide in his room and call 911.

The teenager said how he could hear the person go into the room next door. Then the boy heard him scramble through his parents' room, opening all the doors. Finally, he heard heard him go through his own room. "He just broke in real quick," the teenager said.

The boy sat locked in his room giving information to a 911 dispatcher, hiding inside a closet and grabbing his baseball bat. When the criminal finally made it to the child's room and opened the closet door, the surprised intruder was met with a series of hits with the bat.

The man left the home, but was soon after caught by police.

Crying robber

This is just too funny...
A guy tries to rob a salesman - receives a fist by his intended victim, and takes off crying. Guess he went straight to his mum for comfort.

Story:
In Gloucester, a 32-year-old salesman punched a would-be robber trying to steal his laptop at around 2:30 p.m. on February 19, according to a police spokesperson.

The salesman was allegedly knocking on a door when the offender came up behind him and pushed him.

"The would-be robber then demanded he hand over his computer and mobile phone," the spokesperson said.

The intended victim punched the offender and he is reported to have run off empty-handed and crying.

Lame excuses #5

Today, in our series "It wasn't me - It was Mr Pee", we present you with an all too common tendency of blaming the victim: "She wanted it". After all we know it's never the perpetrator's fault, right?
Jeez...

Story:
A 27-year-old man allegedly attempted to rape a female leasing agent who was showing him an apartment in O'Fallon Lakes, Missouri, according to kctv5.com.

The man reportedly went to the apartment complex Sunday to inquire about an apartment. As the agent showed the man around, he blocked the front door and attempted to rape her, according to police.

The woman managed to escape by struggling and screamed for help.

And here comes the "I'm totally lame, and it shows" part:

This genius allegedly told authorities he had looked at the apartment with his wife the day before and "believed the agent was sending him signals that she wanted to have sex."

'I-knee-do' #1

Great fighting spirit in this "older" guy! If it is totally wise to fight back at that point is another matter all together. I suppose the "spirit" just came over him.

Story:
Pennsylvania -- In Sunbury, an older church leader fought off a would-be robber as he left the church Wednesday night.

The man explained he had finished locking the doors and was walking down a ramp when he saw a man wearing a black mask.

When he was asked for money, the church leader said he didn't have any. However, the man said he was going to check the church leader's pockets anyway.

The church leader, with what he described "just a moment to think", kneed the main in the groin, and punched him to the face. He then ran to his car parked nearby and locked himself inside.

A police spokesman said the criminal took off booking down an alley after the confrontation with the intended victim.

Locking doors

Pennsylvania -- Pennlive.com reports about a woman who escaped early Wednesday because her car doors were locked when two men tried to rob her.

The 46-year-old woman, 46 was stopped along a Carlisle street just before 1:30 a.m. when one of the would-be robbers grabbed the handle of her driver's side door. When they found the door was locked, the men began yelling and demanding money, police said.

The woman didn't panic. She drove off and called police as soon as she could.

Safe at work?

Safe at work? You mean, apart from statistics showing that more than 13,000 women are raped on the job each year in the United States?
...And then you have intimidation, harassment, neglect, bullying, assaults, threats, robberies, theft, murder...

Story:
Myfoxcleveland.com reports about a worker at University Hospitals who has been jailed.

University Circle Police say the male employee trapped another female employee inside an elevator at the hospital. According to a police report, the man forced the woman inside the elevator, picked her up from behind and started shaking her.

Police say each time the elevator stopped on a floor, the man would stop, but no one else could get on the elevator because a cart was blocking the entrance. Each time the elevator door closed, the man would resume assaulting the woman.

Eventually the woman was able to get out of the elevator. She reported the incident to police a few days later."Obviously it's a concern, but University Circle is one of the safest places in the region, it's one of the safest places in Cleveland," says a spokesperson with University Circle Incorporated.

Another tough cookie

I really wonder what goes through the head of people like this...
The answer is most probably: Very little.
As far as I know it takes a brain to have a thought process. Consequently, one may argue that folks like these thugs here have sh**-for-brains - or belong to a league of zombies we refer to as air-heads.
As for the woman here - now, this is a real fighter! I would have her on my team any day.

Story:
Arizona -- A 78-year-old woman is lucky to be alive after surviving a vicious attack. Police say she was attacked by two men -- one of them using a baseball bat.

"I'm very mean when I want to be," the Tucson woman said. The Tucson woman said the attacked occurred when she open the door of her home and to two young
men, one with a baseball bat. "He hit me three times over the head," she said.

The woman fell against the wall and screamed, "you get the hell out of my house, you're not coming in this house."

She struggled to slam the door, while she says one of the boys kept taking swings at her head. The boys eventually ran.

From: Firstcoastnews.com

How low ...

How low is it possible to get?
Seems that new standards are being set all the time.
And yes, it is easy to criticize this woman for drinking, and placing herself in a vulnerable position.
Yet, think about it - how many can raise their hands and say "I have never done anything that could potentially put myself in danger." At least I know I have - many times.

Story:
Michigan -- Police received a call from a 61-year-old Ann Arbor woman who said she was beaten and raped in her home by a repair man she knew through a mutual friend, reports said. The woman said the 43-year-old man, whom she had known for several years, saw her and approached her in a grocery store. During their conversation she said she was sexually assaulted in early May and that police were investigating but had not made an arrest, reports said. At the end of that conversation he agreed to fix her air conditioner in the near future, she said.

As the victim prepared for bed after midnight, the man came over holding a brown paper bag with a bottle of tequila, reports said. She told police that he said he had a friend in the police department who was interested in the case and suggested they re-enact the incident for "vital" information. She agreed and they began drinking, as on the night of the previous assault. At one point they even rearranged furniture and placed stuffed animals in chairs to represent other people who were there that night, police reports said.

The victim told police she drank five shots of tequila and didn't remember how they ended up in her bedroom, where the man began ripping off her clothes. She said she fought him off and ran into an attached bathroom, but he ran through the doorway before she could close the door. He then forced her onto the bed and beat and choked her during the assault, reports said.

Source

Quite 'a-door-able'

It's worth repeating - a door can be used in more ways than one ...

Story:
California -- A robbery victim fought with her assailant, an ex-convict on probation, before police arrived yesterday and arrested the suspect, police said. The incident happened when the victim was driving out of a parking lot in North Hills about 1 p.m. Thursday, LA police said.

The victim was stopped by a woman who approached the open window of her car, hit her in the face with a beer bottle and grabbed her wallet.The 46-year-old intended victim kicked the car door open from inside, forcing the 45-year old suspect back, then fought the suspect before police arrived. Both suffered minor injuries, police said.

Source

Strong "belief"

"Believing she was about to become the victim of a crime, (...)"?
I would dare suggest she was spot on, and wisely enough acted accordingly.

Story:
A man and woman, both 29, dragged a motorist from her driver's seat in a carjacking attempt at a Hermosa Beach gas station, but fled when the victim struggled free and screamed, police said Friday.

Police officers quickly arrested the pair, who are also suspected of another attempted carjacking Thursday, when they pretended to be panhandlers, Hermosa Beach police said.

The first victim called police about 5:35 a.m. Thursday after racing away from a gas station. The driver told police she had just finished fueling her car and was leaving for work when the female suspect approached her and asked for change. At the same time, her accomplice and another man stood at the front and back of her car.

"Believing she was about to become the victim of a crime, she locked her doors, screamed and drove away from the location," a police said. The suspects ran and the woman called police.

Source

Hazards at work, 45

Community order and no jail for an assault like this?

Story:
A drunken man who beat up a taxi driver for kicking him out of his cab has walked free from court. He was given a 12-month community order.

The 21-year-old man punched the driver after being ordered out of his taxi because of his unruly behaviour, leaving the victim nervous about carrying out his work, particularly at night and when passengers had been drinking.

The driver said he picked up five customers at 11:10 p.m in Burnley. The defendant sat in the front passenger seat and persistently knocked the taxi out of gear and interfered with the victim's radio. He pulled on the handbrake of the vehicle, tore a sticker off the dashboard and threw cards into the back of the cab.

The driver stopped, told the group he did not want to take them any further because of the defendant's behaviour and told them to get out.

As the defendant left the taxi, he elbowed the driver and the driver walked around the front of the vehicle to try to close the door. The defendant was standing in the way and punched the driver around the left eye, making him fall backwards. Two of the other passengers then joined in and the victim was again floored and thought he was briefly knocked unconscious.

Source

A brave lad

We can always argue if it is smart to fight back against armed robbers. Still, this is one brave young man!

Story:
UK -- A boy fought off a gang of masked robbers who burst into his home and attacked his father with Samurai swords.

15-year-old Craig smashed a glass coffee table over the back of one of the raiders as he slashed at his father. The father was struggling with the robber after three men burst into his home in Freehold, Rochdale.

The robbers, wearing balaclavas and dressed all in black, slipped into the house through the unlocked front door at about 10:30 p.m. But they fled empty-handed after being tackled by Craig.

Source

A donut nut

I guess these donuts are 'Dimply' the best?

Story:
Kansas -- Dimple Donuts employees were surprised when a seemingly ordinary order turned into an attempted robbery.

A man in his 20s came into the store, with no shirt and ordered some coffee and donuts at about 1 a.m. He tried to pay with a credit card, and when the employees told him they did not accept them, he attempted to rob the place.

The man started throwing things and demanding money. He tried to hop the counter, but was stopped. The man fled the store. An employee tried to stop him and was injured when his hand was slammed in a car door.

Source

Another 'doork'

New York -- At a Macy's store on Manhattan - around 1:50 p.m. on Sunday - a 60-year-old man allegedly stripped in a nearby dressing room before heading to where a 16-year-old girl was trying on a dress.

The teenager said that the man hooked his arm around her neck before she managed to fight him off. The girl she fought off the man by hitting him with the dressing room door.

Source

Hotel rooms

In the eyes of a perpetrator, a hotel room is a "perfect" place for criminal activities - it's secluded and you can lock the door. Plus, people are used to a certain level of noise. In a sense it is "private" - kind of like domestic disturbances coming form a neighbor.

Story:
A female guest reported a male maid sexually assaulted her at a hotel in Middletown. She said the man came into her room around noon Saturday and fondled her in the bathroom.

When she tried to make him leave, he pushed her into a corner and attempted to kiss her, according to a police report.

Source

'A-door-able'

Florida -- A woman slammed a man's arm in her front door after he barged into her apartment and tried to sexually assault her, a spokesman of the Tallahassee police said.

The 20-year-old woman was at her home about 11:20 a.m. when she heard a knock on the door. When she opened it, a man she didn't know forced his way inside, and the two struggled.

He grabbed her, ripped her shirt and tried to take off her pants, police said. She fought back, slamming his arm in the door several times before she got him out.

Source