Never Do This!

The brutal attack of a security guard by three young men reminds us that you need to consider everyone a potential threat  when you find yourself sitting in your vehicle in an isolated spot like this guard was at a school construction site at 3:00 A.M.

According to one  morning television newscast he either opened his vehicle window and then actually got out of his patrol car  to try and help a young man who claimed he was being followed by two  other men.

Both responses can lead to disaster for you.  If you are approached by a stranger in situations like this  you should never open your window more than an inch or two. In that position behind the driver's wheel  if you have a wide open window you are very vulnerable to attack as you have little room to duck or move out of the way of a punch or knife attack.

Always consider the possibility that this person might be setting you up ( as in this case) for attack by getting you to let your guard down allowing him or her the chance to get close enough to attack you.

If  you do choose to get out of your car it should be on the side away from the person or persons confronting you -- even if this means turning your vehicle around.

At that moment when you are getting out  -- when you are neither sitting or fully standing leaves you wide open to attack -- unless you have positioned your vehicle so that the person you are confronting is on the other side when you emerge. Then you have your vehicle as shield to give you time to defend yourself.

The other thins  you have to do is look carefully around before, and after you have left your vehicle  to make sure this person does not have accomplices lurking around ready to join him or her in an attack once you have left the safety of your vehicle.And do not let this person get too close to you at any time

In most situations it would be better to call  the police in a situation like the once this guard was in and let them respond first while you remain there on the scene -- in the safety of your vehicle.

Think. Ask yourself, "what is the safe thing to do?" before you respond to possibly dangerous situations involving other persons; it looks like the economy could be in for a continued beating and we are going to see more and more crime -- especially around construction sites, but also possibly in parking malls or even around your home.

(See post below about Canadian companies and the economy)