What are the simple things you unconsciously do when going about your day that make you a soft target for highway robbers, pick pockets, and white collar crime?
Peter Mbugua, 29, got into a life of crime a 12 to fend for his family. The former prisoner is currently a champion for a crime-free slum in Kibarage, Loresho area.
Haron Kivogo, 25, is a reformed white collar thief whose 40th day came when a cheque forgery plan went awry. Today he serves as the chairman of Slum Network Reform, an organisation that endeavours to reform youth.
They share some ways that we unwittingly make ourselves vulnerable to crime.
1. Not honing your instincts. Note any suspicious people around you on the streets? Don't ignore that feeling. Let them see that you have seen them. A split-second glance. This takes away the element of surprise that they rely on heavily and will go on to hunt easier prey. They wouldn’t want to attack you now because who knows if you are armed?
2. The fairest game in traffic is the person seated next to an open car/ matatu window. If you are in a matatu and using your phone, while your window is open, know that a bunch of guys is plotting to get away with your phone, or bag. Mostly, it is carelessness on people’s part that makes them lose their valuables.
3. Keep the earphones away. Criminals like distracted people because you won't see them coming. And someone listening to music will most often realise that something is going down a little too late. Be aware. Look around and be purposeful. That could deter a thief.
4. Criminals target people who may find it difficult to get away. So if they spot one lady in high heels and another in flats, they will definitely go for the one in high heels because she won’t get away from them. So, if carrying out your business in a crime-prone area, wear comfortable shoes and clothes that won’t impede your motion.
5. Dark entrances. Add lighting to your home entrance. Robbers are more comfortable in dark environments because it is a security blanket. So yes, fix a light bulb at your doorstep and leave it on at night. It just might save you from burglars.
6. Do not drive while calling or sending text messages.Your mind cannot concentrate on three things: driving, texting and looking out for danger. And criminals can tell who can be easily robbed. You do not know it, but the thief is studying every move you make; how you’re driving, your car’s signals, your body language, and if you are paying attention to see if the gridlock is opening.
7. For ladies, when carrying your phone inside your handbag, don’t let your handbag hang behind you. That’s like a big neon sign to a pickpocket, screaming, “WELCOME”. Always keep your handbag where you can see it, especially in crowded places.
8. Criminals love and loathe showy people in equal measure. “Why do you have an expensive watch and a sleek phone while I get to go hungry?” is their way of thinking. And if you have these items on display, they also figure that you have more where that came from. So depending on which side of the town you are in, be careful what you flash around. Best get to your destination first.
9. If you see a bunch of smartly-dressed guys entering a public service vehicle or hanging out at a bus stop, and they are holding huge envelopes, folders, newspapers or handbags, hold your wares closer. Pickpockets rarely operate solo. They are like wolves; hunting and circling their prey in packs. Generally, most crimes are perpetrated by at least a couple of people. There is a ploy that is called in Sheng, “mtupe nimsanye” which means, “distract and rob”.
10. Beware of gimmicks. They operate in groups. One shuffles in front of your car like they are sick, and if you make as if to help, or open your window to help, you are toast. Or one could point out that you have a puncture, or your car has some fault of some sort. But you are being set up for a handbag, phone or laptop snatch. The trick is to always stay mentally alert.
11. House-breakers sometimes come in twos or threes. One common trick they use, especially in places that are densely populated, is to have a lady in the group washing clothes outside your balcony, or door. The audacity of this action will make neighbours think that these are your guests and let the crime happen right under their noses. You can mitigate this by having a good relationship with neighbours, and them having your phone number.
12. Show no fear. If you are walking somewhere and see people you believe are thieves and tense up, you have already showed signs that you are a quarry. Even thieves are afraid. The thief does not know if you are armed or not. Your confidence will make you pass where others dare not set foot.
13. Walking in a crowded place at night, be vigilant. When you see about five people walking ahead of you, unless you have a black belt in karate, do not try to walk in between them. You are only setting yourself up for mugging and, if you are unlucky, you will return home stark-naked.
14. Shop keepers are easy prey. And upcoming thieves cut their teeth with their premises. The modus operandi for stealing items from shops is asking for an item that is in a place that will force the shopkeeper to turn his back on the criminal. Of course, shoplifters pull this trick after doing their research. Shop keepers should not keep valuable items or cash registers within easy reach of buyers. This is why most refreshments’ refrigerators are under lock and key.
15. Keep your cheque books in a secure place. To be fraud-proof, do not let your employees know details about your cheques. Keep your cheque books in a safe. If you keep your cheques, signed or not, where an employee can easily access them, you may be setting yourself up for a heist.
16. Preying on your children. Some children of the rich folk, for whatever reason, run away from home and seek refuge in the slums. Or they may have gotten into drug use and are looking for camaraderie and kindred spirits in the ghetto. These kids are lured in by gangs and made to steal cheques and take pictures of their parent’s signature. Sometimes such kids also plan for their houses to be burglarised. Having a good relationship with your teenage children goes a long way in identifying criminal behavior.
17. If you are driving home and notice that you are being tailed by a motorcycle, drive past your house, make unexpected turns and note if they are still on your tail. If they are, drive to the nearest police station because the gate of one’s house is a trap that has led to many murders and violent robberies.
18.In the streets, it can be a thin line between being a Good Samaritan and being a sucker. Never stop when a stranger approaches you. The time you have stopped is enough for conmen to play with your mind. The commonest trick is a stranger stopping you to ask for, say, directions, and then almost immediately, an accomplice comes and greets the stranger, “Long time, Man of God”. That lowers your guard and thence begins an experience you won’t want to retell.
Keep your home safe
Tony Sahni, Group Managing Director at Securex Agencies (K) Limited, shares some tips on limiting house burglarly
19. Intentionally limit access
If you have service providers working in your home, you should limit the number and restrict them from getting to parts of the house that they don't really need to such as the master bedroom.
Watch where you buy your padlocks or door locks as burglars often use master keys to get past these. Remember to keep your doors and gates locked at all times, whether you're home or not, and even if you're only stepping out briefly. Remember, most burglaries rarely last more than a couple of minutes.
20. Don't be lax
I find that most people make the assumption that their home or neighbourhood is safe simply because they have never been attacked before. This leads to some form of laxity in investing in securing their houses. This is why you'd find people forgetting to lock their doors, leaving their windows open, or forgetting to arm their intruder alarms for instance.
21. The enemy could be inside
Another common misconception is that the only threat to your security is external intrusion. Your approach to security should always start from the inside moving outwards. This means limiting the number of people who can enter your house, controlling their movement when inside the house, keeping your valuables out of plain sight, setting up a safe haven for you and your family, and so on.
22. Vet your service providers
Nine times out of ten, an intruder is either someone known to you or someone who has been to your house or neighbourhood before. You're more likely to be robbed by the person who collects your garbage every week than by an opportunistic burglar who happened to pick out your house. This includes service providers like house helps, gardeners, taxi drivers and so on.
To prevent this, you should prefer one service provider as opposed to having a different one every week. For instance, if you arrive home late and have to take a taxi or bodaboda home, have one trusted rider instead of picking a different one every night. Or if you hire a help to do your laundry every weekend, ask a few friends or trusted neighbours for recommendations and work with a service provider that you have been referred to.
23. Maintain control even when away
It is also important to control access to your home. I normally advise people to leave clear instructions with their security teams not to let anyone in the house before you give the go-ahead. Limiting movement in and out of your compound is critical to your safety.
24. Know your neighbours
I am a strong believer in the concept of "nyumba kumi". It's important to know your neighbours, especially when you move into a new neighbourhood. For example, if you're intending to travel over the election week, your neighbours can watch over your property while you are away. Or perhaps consider a scenario where armed robbers have raided your house. Your neighbour is more likely to raise an alarm if they know you.
Don’t be a walking target
It takes seven seconds for a criminal to consider you an easy target, says former FBI man Steve Kardian. “A criminal’s biggest fear is getting hurt and getting caught,” he says.
He also recommends the STAAR principle
Stride: Take forceful, confident steps with a gait that is neither too short nor too long.
Tall: Don’t hunch your back. Stand tall, shoulders back, chin up. That spells confidence.
Arms: Swing your arms from your elbow as you walk.
Awareness: Don’t be caught up in your phone. Look around. Be observant.
Relax
