Avoid a Merry Christmas MUGGING...be AWARE,be SAFE

I do hope all of my readers have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS...stay safe;rushing to finish Holiday shopping could lower your guard against muggers looking to score your wallet or purse! ..........Avoid being "boxed in"by people,vehicles; have an avenue of escape!..........someone is starting to "pace" his movement to yours (you stop...they stop); cross the street or go into a store..........look for people circling you, moving to "bracket" you or surround you..........many attacks are prefixed by them asking you a question; distracts you while they close the distance(usually the attack starts from the silent accomplice at your side/behind you!)..........the perp will glance quickly at you,then around to look for cops/witnesses,then back to you repeatedly..........attackers like to approach from an oblique angle that just "happens"to intersect with your position;watch for this!..........beware if someone approaches you with one hand hidden in a coat/pants pocket; they don't want to show their weapon too soon..........RED ALERT if someone bumps/pushes/shoves you (pickpockets use this MO a lot)..........cross the street to avoid someone obviously intoxicated/strung out..........watch for vehicles passing you a second or third time or stopping alongside you as you walk..........avoid attempts to bait you with insults/remarks (touched on this in a prior post);walk away toward other people, they will assist since you are NOT an aggressor..........the muggers will glance at each other just prior to launching their attack: final check to make sure each one is ready!..........if someone gets "in your face",yes,watch them ,BUT also look out for the CALM looking one standing off to your side (he'll be the one to sucker punch you more often then not!) Any one of these factors by itself is likely no big deal; TWO/THREE/or more of these factors together should put you on HIGH ALERT!!! BLESSINGS to ALL for JOYOUS & PEACEFUL HOLIDAYS!!!!!---jun fan joe