Street-smart protection: Simple tactics to keep yourself safe outside 

Samiha Mamun

The bus was packed, and people were moving home tired after their daily hustle. Mr Abdullah al Mamun located a place and clasped the handle on the wall; his thoughts were elsewhere. He was in the middle of the aisle, suddenly feeling a push from the other side, and before he knew it, eight young men dressed well and intelligently in neat black suits walled him. Initially, he dismissed it as usual, particularly during rush hour, because spaces are usually scarce.

The pushing, however, grew more forceful, and as it did, he started to develop some form of discomfort. Something wasn't right.

In confusion, one of the men expertly used his small pocket knife to cut open his pocket. They would have had his phone and other belongings within the blink of an eye.

But that was when his instinct came into play. He saw the danger; he pushed one of the men off, sending everyone surrounding him scattering away.

Grabbing his bags with his left hand, he extended his right arm and asked the bus helper to shove the door open, and he came out of the bus without being harmed or losing his possessions.

One can understand from this incident how stealthy and well-coordinated some pickpockets are at securing their prey, especially in crowded places.

There are a few similar cases, but there are great and practical tips on how to guard against them. Let's explore avoiding this incident and protecting your items while walking through a crowd.

Most importantly, do not take roads that are isolated and risky

Refrain from taking lonely or poorly illuminated streets, especially at night. These are places that afford the criminals what they seek easy targets. Try to be in medium crowded places known to you or places you have witnessed, or move with friends or relatives. It is much harder for someone to commit a crime against someone with others.

Stay alert and confident

In essence, physical appearance, embracing things such as confidence, and even constant vigilance can help prevent theft.

Snatch-and-grab thieves target easily unsuspecting people who seem to have their minds off their surroundings.

If you are walking with a destination in mind, maintain eye contact with people around you, and limit the use of your phone, you keep yourself less of a target for a would-be attacker.

Keep valuables in the proper position during congestion

Ensure that your bag or purse is in front of you in crowded places such as the market, on a bus, or during festivals.

If one wears the backpack on their back, the pack becomes very vulnerable to being picked easily by pickpockets.

To make it harder for someone to get at your things when you are not looking, you can fold the zipper or the clasp more and put your hand over it.

Arm yourself with essential safety tools

A spare item such as a pepper spray, whistle, or flashlight can help increase security. These safety tools are easily accessible, and possessing horns, whistles, etc., can be helpful to scare a thief or get attention if you are vulnerable. However, use these responsibly and only for self-defence purposes.

Learn the essential things to do in self-defence

It is excellent to learn how to defend oneself. The worst thing that any commoner knows is that primary forms of martial arts or self-defence moves will somehow help if somebody tries to snatch or attack him/her. Some known local gyms or community centres offer beginner self-defence classes; the main aim is to teach something other than potent tricks or actions since strength, and experience is unnecessary. Having these skills gives you the readiness and means to protect yourself in case?

Trust your instincts

If you feel uncomfortable for any reason, if you get the kick in your gut that you're standing near someone you shouldn't be, or if you walk down a block that seems too quiet, it's time to pay attention to it.

Sometimes, all you have is your instincts. If you feel unsafe, cross the street, go to a busier section, or find another walking path.

Have emergency contacts ready

It's also a good idea to have a few people on the list of speed dial, such as relatives, friends, or local police. It makes sense to have these numbers handy if one needs help quickly. Likewise, there are emergency hotline numbers for any place you may be if you have problems that require immediate attention.

Secure your devices

Criminals usually steal what contains people's data, such as phones and wallets. Some phones have tracking applications, which one can download so that when the phone is stolen, one can track it.

Also, always ensure that your phone is password-protected. This extra step can make it more difficult for a thief to access your data.

Protection against pickpockets and thieves is about developing daily routines that make it more challenging to be a target.

By practising awareness, avoiding areas that might compromise your safety, selecting safer options, and having safety tools with you always, you are protecting your belongings and preparing for any possible scenario.

We must never forget that self-protection is not about being paranoid but about being shielded and safeguarded. They are the behaviours you can move effectively without worrying about loss or harm to yourself and your possessions.

Samiha Mamun is an undergraduate student of Army IBA (Affiliated to Bangladesh University of Professionals), Savar, Dhaka. She can be reached at [email protected]