Yes, despite the “Stay-At-Home” advisories, despite the looming virus threat, with the threat of sickness and even death attached, despite the lack of people driving the roadways, despite the fact that most people are out of work or on “work-at-home” orders…the knuckleheads, criminals, are still out there. Like roaches in a dirty kitchen at night, they are still out there. To some, myself included, we would say that the criminals are out in greater numbers than what seems to be normal.
Is that true? I do not know. I do tend to pay attention more than many of you, for obvious lifestyle and career reasons. However, crime stats in my city, Los Angeles, seem to suggest that it is true. We have all read that in many jurisdictions the Sheriffs Offices have been releasing inmates. Based on…well, I won’t get into their rationale. But many have been released in what is termed “time served.”
And as you, my two readers, know, I myself was a recent victim of a day time crime. Yes, day time, as in, the middle of the afternoon. In the light of day. In front of God and country. On a major city street with cars passing by. A crime…or I should say, crime attempt. He did commit the crime, but I caught him in the act.
He was arrested on that day on a Felony charge. But I got word from an active duty PD friend that he was rather quickly released.
I have to wonder if he even had to posted bail.
My Ring security system (https://ring.com/ ) gives me 24-hour reports of activations and alerts from people in my neighborhood network (not advertising, just reporting). And let me tell you, the alerts are coming in all through the day and night. Package thefts, mail thefts, car burglars, home burglars, vandals, suspicious persons, and more.
The message for the day is this…
Nothing has changed in your world.
You may be home, keeping to the Social Distancing orders(?), but the realities of city life have not changed. The beat goes on, or should I say…could I say, the beatdown. Crime is alive and well in American cities.
Social Distancing has likely been a big help to our nations effort to slow down and possibly stop the spread of the unnamed virus. This is good. But it can also be noted that your efforts towards Social Distancing, which I have repeated several times in prior blogs, is in keeping with the concepts of my Situational Awareness (SA) training and lecturing focus.
Social Distancing is not fun. Isolation is not fun. Not being able to hang out in the coffee shops of your neighborhood (my own Brentwood “Joe the Juicer” location must be missing me!) going to the park or beach, not fun, or missed out on fun at least. But the benefits gained are good. And, well, using Situational Awareness methods, which are in line with Social Distancing methods are good. Being safe is good.
So, continue if you have been with your Situational Awareness.
If you are alive and well, with all your body parts attached and your property safely in hand, begin now if you have not been, as if it were important to you.
Situational Awareness 101 tells you these are your awareness “Key Concepts:”
- Preparedness…
- You have the opportunity to take preventative measures before you enter into the threatening or unknown environment.
- That means, just as you wash up, brush and cloth yourself before going out…you can plan your upcoming movement and actions, before commencing them. Know where you are going, how you are going, how prepared you are for travel, and what you will need for the time you are away. In this time of viruses can ensure that you have an adequate type of face covering and gloves to protect your hands from the many different public surfaces you will encounter.
- Awareness…
- If you are going away from the house you certainly can review, when necessary, the directions and the location you are going to.
- If you are using personal transportation you certainly can ensure that your vehicle or mode of travel is ready and capable of getting you there and back. That is to say, the car is gassed up, your tires and your car are in general good repair, etc. If you are using public transportation you certainly can ensure that your chosen method is available and the timing you need to have to be current for getting it and arriving when you intend.
- Before going out your door, or leaving your workplace, you certainly
- Action Plan…
- An action plan you say?! Yes, I say! You, my two readers, know that I always say…“never go into a place that you do not know how to get out…” My almost quote from the “Ronin” movie from some years ago. Giving thought to how you might need to react to various scenarios you could encounter (earthquakes, fires, evacuations, active shooters, structure collapses, etc.), arms you with the options, beyond panic, if and when something, that never should happen, does happen.
- Wouldn’t you feel great knowing that your child had been prepared for an emergency when they left the close-at-hand presence by your side when going to school, to the park, to a friend’s, to the mall or theater…
- Yes, Yes You Would! So too for yourself I bet!
And least we forget to mention…how about a big thank you to…
- our First Responders…the police, fire, doctors and nurses…
- our scientists…
- private industry working on cures and safety products…
- clerks in markets…
- service workers…
- and all those others keeping the lights and power on, keeping the place clean, and anyone else serving in your neighborhood “essential businesses.”,
