Media and self-defense

Women's self-defense
Illustration - from Flickr.com

Meg Stone has a precise and very true observation in jamaicaplaingazette.com about how the media seems to ignore - or at least appears to underplay - a very important fact about women and self-defense actions.

Stone has the same experience as yours truly - it is proven countless of times, and beyond a shadow of a doubt how women are capable of defending themselves in situations where the attacker is male and very likely much stronger. In fact there are several thousands (and growing) cases being documented: Women Can.

By failing to focus on the facts of the matter, it may be that men as well as women may think that your only viable option is to get help from the authorities/police, a male companion, or begin carrying a gun for protection. Now, there is probably nothing wrong with being able to trust in outside help, as long as you don't take away the individual's trust in herself and her own abilities before anything else!

A sad but rather obvious fact is that you will often times be alone, and that you will need to stand your own ground. Any help will many times come in after the fact - or in addition to your own self-defense maneuvers.

A closer reading of the article reveals that this woman successfully defended herself by using her voice and shining a flashlight in the would-be assailant's face. In response to her actions, the assailant fled, but not before she got a physical description, which she gave to the police. Most importantly, this woman's bravery and fast thinking kept her from sustaining serious injuries. Unfortunately, this woman's successful self-protective actions are nowhere to be found in the Gazette's headline or the opening paragraph of the article.

In the above article, the author makes a reference to the National Crime Victimization Survey. It's undoubtedly a good idea to read it and make up your own mind.

In any case, the author makes a very good point in my opinion, and you should definitely give it a read. I'm also curious as to what your perspective is on this issue. Feel free to post below, re-tweet or post to Facebook!

"That'll teach you!"

How about teaching someone self-defense moves ... whether they want it or not :-)

In Louisiana, a university student was arrested for simple battery of another student, according to lsureveille.com.

The alleged victim complained to police that an 18-year-old fellow student, of Metairie, subjecting him to a "series of submission holds without his permission".

The suspect aggressor reportedly told police he was trying to teach the young man self-defense and had no intention of hurting him.

Lured with free iPod

Luckily the intended victim was aware of the set-up - being able to spot this legitimate nut-case before things got terribly out of hand.

And I do really wonder if the defense lawyers really believe in the unbelievable dribble that some times tend to fall, like perfectly polished manure, out of their mouths?

Read and judge for yourself ... and weep accordingly. "Just a rape fantasy..." my a**!

Looking for targets

In Japan, a 34-year-old man from Kawasaki is been charged with rape and attempted rape according to media. His latest victim was a female crew member on a first-class JR train carriage, according to yomiuri.co.jp. The rape occurred April 2 when he showed the crew member, in her 20s, into a restroom.

It is reported that the man also is charged of attempting to rape and injuring another female crew member aboard the train about one week before the rape. This assault also took place in a restroom on board the train.

"I knew female crew members were present in the first-class carriages and so I targeted them. I thought no one would notice because few passengers rode the train at that hour," the man is reported to admit.

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.

In shape

It is without a doubt of great help to be in shape -- both in a physical, as well as mental sense -- if you ever end up in a self-defense situation.

A case in point is this story about a 41-year-old woman from New York City. The intended victim was assaulted by a knife-wielding intruder in her basement apartment.

The woman says her furious, and successful, self-defense response, is due to the fact that she works out at the gym 7 days a week.

When she fought back, by screaming, pushing the intruder and then knocking him in the groin, the man went scurrying out.

Ruined robber's day

Robber's day ... is that something akin to St. Patricks Day, or Remembrance Day? It seems only fair that the robber's get their own day...
My bad jokes and similar bad taste aside, this 84-year-old guy really made my day. Sweet!

California -- A teenager may have been fooled by his intended victim's appearance. The would-be robber threatened an 84-year-old Santa Rosa man with a knife Wednesday afternoon, saying he wanted the man's wallet, according to pressdemocrat.com.

The elderly target put his grocery bags down. He then informed the young man he had been threatened by knives and bayonets before -- having fought in three wars as a U.S. Marine. He made it quite clear that the teen would be sorry if he came too close.

When the would-be robber stepped toward him, he proved his point by kicked the young criminal in the groin, according to police.

The teenager, who was estimated to be 15 or 16 years old, was reportedly left doubled over on the sidewalk around 1:15 p.m.

stalking, push-in

Here is a "classic" case of a perpetrator using (at least) two means to get to his intended victim - stalking (following), and a push-in.

Story:
UK -- In Newcastle, police say a man stalked an 18-year-old female in the early hours of March 9 (Sunday morning).

The teenager was walking home from a night out with friends at around 2:30 a.m., and footage from closed circuit TV, shows the intended victim being followed through the city centre.

The assault happened at around 2:40 a.m. The perpetrator followed her inside her complex, grabbed and pushed into her home, before sexually assaulting her. Screaming and kicking him, the young woman forced the attacker to flee her home.

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.

On the phone...

I can't help but wonder if people are at all aware of how they may set themself up as a victim. And no, this is NOT the same as blaming the victim.

Story:
Maryland -- Nbc4.com reports about a 44-year-old woman who was walking and talking on a cell phone at about 11:30 p.m. in Montgomery Village on Sunday.

A man with a knife reportedly pulled her into a lower stairwell landing in an apartment building and raped her.

The attacker fled on foot after the woman fought back, police said. The attacker is allegedly "known slightly" by the victim.

Guys too

If you believed only females got knocked out by "date-rape" drugs, then think again. You have to be aware that the stuff is being used also to rob people.

Kvue.com reports about cases in Texas (Dallas and Houston) where women allegedly have targeted men at hotel night clubs and used some type of drugs to spike their drinks.

A police spokesman said that this has happened shortly after meeting them,and that the rest of the night is a blur until they find their property gone when they wake up the next morning. All of these male victims wore expensive watches, police said.

Police said these professional crooks are flirtatious, and that at least 8-cases have been reported since November 2007.

From bad to worse

I can't really argue too much about this man following the culprits after being robbed at gunpoint. I might actually have done the same thing myself if I was in the position to do so.

However, pulling up alongside two armed - and now probably desperate - men, may not be your smartest move.

Personally, I would probably not follow someone in the first place unless I had some way of communicating with police. And my only reason for following someone would be to notify authorities.

Think about this:
After a robbery you're most likely to have strong adrenal reactions, and you most probably won't function too well (unless you're trained to do so/used to it). You are probably very angry, and this also doesn't exactly put you in a better "combat mode" either. And then add to it that you are dealing with (often times) armed and desperate people under the influence of drugs. A criminal does not want to get caught, remember...

And risking your life for some "valuables" ... things? Then that would really have to be some very special items of immense personal and sentimental value!

Story:
Virginia -- Police said a 49-year-old man was shot following a robbery in the Lorton area Sunday, according to nbc4.com.

The victim had just parked his SUV when he was approached by two masked men with guns, according to police. The victim reportedly gave the men his wallet and other items, and they got into a car and fled.

The robbery victim got into his car in order to follow the culprits. When he pulled up next to the suspect vehicle near an intersection, one of the culprits allegedly shot him in the upper body.
The man drove home and called police. He was later was hospitalized.

"Safe" at home

It is a fact that most sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows, or have met prior to the crime.
And even when there is a stranger element involved, there is a greater possibility that the victims are being assaulted at, or close to, their own home.
By studying several thousand such cases - see 'women can' for more info - I can attest to the "incidents" described below. Mind you, these are just some recent, totally random examples.

Stories:
(February 7) Fayetteville, North Carolina -- A 29-year-old woman reported that a man broke into her condominium and raped her on January 26 2008.
Police are not linking that incident to three that were reported in the same area over an 18-month period, according to fayobserver.com.
The most recent of the linked cases happened in September 2007 when a 21-year-old woman said a man broke into her home and raped her.
A 45-year-old woman told police a man broke into her home and raped her in February 2007.
A man grabbed a 23-year-old woman from behind as she was jogging and raped her in August 2006.
Because of the ongoing investigation, police are not saying how they linked the three cases or give details of any of the incidents.

(February 4) New Jersey -- Point Pleasant Beach police say a man broke into a home on Saturday and attempted to sexually assault a woman at knifepoint, app.com reports.
The attacker fled, and the victim ran to the house of a neighbor, who called the police. She was treated for her injuries at a medical center and later released, police said.

(February 7) Washington, D.C. -- msnbc.msn.com reports about a man who entered a building on Monday at about 10 a.m. by ringing a woman's door buzzer from the outside of the building and telling her he was looking for an apartment to rent.
The man then reportedly sexually assaulted the woman inside her residence.

(February 7, 2008) -- An unidentified man targeted a 19-year-old Arizona State University, Tempe student living in an apartment complex located near the University according to abc15.com.
Investigators believe the suspect used the porch of the ground level apartment to climb into the porch of the second floor unit.
Investigators say the man got on top of the young woman, but she fought back, biting him and then he disappeared into the large complex. The 19-year-old student received minor injuries during the attempted sexual assault.

Illegal cabs again

Don't mind jumping into an illegal cab after a night out? What's the problem you say?

Well, let us use Oslo, my town in Norway as an example. Just in a couple of days there has been reported several instances of rape and other serious criminal activities involving illegal taxi drivers. One driver alone was recently accused of three sexual assaults against drunk, young female victims.

Then there's another case where a 41-year-old woman was raped and robbed. As if the sexual trauma is not enough, the travel insurance company have refused to pay the woman for the values she was robbed of.

Why? They claim the victim is to blame by getting into an illegal cab under the influence of alcohol.

Even if this may be a tough call, it points to the very real dangers of getting into one of these vehicles - if anything happens, you're basically on your own.

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."

Rape facts

Some people may perhaps still believe that rape often times involve some perverted stranger jumping out from behind bushes late at night.

The figures below should indeed points to the undisputible, statistical facts that the assault rape by some "lurking weirdo" is not as prevalent as one might be led to believe by watching the news.

Of course, assault rape by total strangers do happen ... in fact you may read about hundreds upon hundreds of such cases in my e-book series: Women Can. And these are only cases where women fought back successfully.

Still, most rapes and attempted rapes are done by someone the victim knows, like a neighbour. And even though the below story is from India, it is really universal in nature.

Story:
India -- Figures collected from different police stations in Surat show that neighbours were involved in 23 out of the 45 rape or rape attempt cases registered during 2007. Girls aged between three and 15 were victims in 18 of the cases.

Neighbours were followed by other close acquaintances such as friends, who were involved in six cases. In three cases, rickshaw drivers were found to be involved, while the crime was committed in one case each by a tenant and a landlord.

Lover and to-be husband were found involved in two rape cases, while the father of a victim was the guilty in one case. The accused in four of the cases have not been identified so far, the police records show.

A police spokesman said that such cases are taking place not only in Surat, but are a common occurrence all over the country. He further said in many cases victim's neighbours or other acquaintances were involved as victims are in regular contact with them.

ATM distraction

Canada -- Police say there's an increase in distraction thefts that typically happen around bank machines, according to 640toronto.com.

They say an unsuspecting victim will withdraw a large amount of cash and is then approached by a suspect who starts up a quick conversation.

Usually, the thief offers some kind of help. When the victim is distracted, their money is stolen.

More targeting

Canada -- Vancouver.24hrs.ca reports that Asian women are being targeted in the latest string of violent purse snatchings, according to police.

A Police spokesperson says that five women have been assaulted from behind and robbed in southeast Vancouver between December 4 and December 9.

"The suspect comes up from behind and brutalizes the victim," the spokesperson said. Some women were hit in the back of the head with something like a police baton.

In the past, Asian women were targeted by thieves because of a perception immigrants are less likely to report crimes.

"The mp3 man"

Still thinking walking/jogging with music is a bright idea?

Story:
Sweden -- a 25-year-old Bohuslaen man has admitted seven sexual assaults, but he is a suspect in other cases as well.

The man was arrested in November as a suspect in sexual assaults in Lund, Gothenburg, Uddevalla and Bovallstrand.

The man has admitted rape in three of the cases, while other times the intended victims have gotten away.

A police spokesman says they are certain that the man intended to rape his victims in all the incidents.

The serial rapist has been called "the mp3 man" because he almost exclusively picked victims that were listening to music through headphones.

Great "security"

California -- In San Diego, a downtown security guard has been arrested, charged with sexually assaulting four women in a parking garage elevator, then taking a $100 bill from one of them, according to knbc.com.

The victims were reportedly walking to their car when a security guard directed them to into an elevator he was holding open.

While on the elevator, the guard stopped the car, pulled out a knife, then ordered them to disrobe. One of the victims offered the man a $100 bill to let them go, and he agreed, the spokesman said.

The victims went to police, and the suspect was arrested when the young women identified him as the perpetrator.