Tells? what to watch for...

S

Swampy459

Inactive
Ok,

In poker when someone is bluffing, they might have a little behavior that lets you know they are up to something. It might be fiddling with a ring, or wiping their forehead, or looking up and to the left. Those behaviors are called "Tells"

Some are obvious, some are not, and they vary from player to player.

What are some street criminals "tells" ??

Assuming you are in condition yellow, and something prompts you to go to red.. What might some of those behaviors be?

I guess I'm asking "what does a criminal do that might tip you off in advance that something evil might be on his mind?"

like "a guy goes into a stop and rob with both hands in the pockets of his hoodie with the hood over his head .... would move me from yellow to red and cause me to pay particular attention to him"

the hood over the head is a "tell" that something might be awry. What are some other behaviors that would "get your attention quickly"

Walking out of walmart there might be 10 people in the parking lot -- what behaviors would draw your attention?



thanks in advance for your responses,

Chad Minter
http://www.envenomated.com
 
Anyone who's watching you, especially if they seem to be following you or changing their position in response to your movements.
Anyone who approaches you for any reason raises a red flag.
Anyone asking for the time or directions raises a red flag.
Anyone who isn't moving directly toward or away from the store (Walmart parking lot) raises a red flag..
Anyone who isn't moving raises a red flag.
 
Anyone who appeared to be "nervous" or fidgety or unusually restless for no apparent reason would get my attention and make me wonder.
 
Watch, observe everyone. Your most likely candidates from everyone are those who do not seem pre-occupied with their sunconscious tasks of going from one place to another; but are looking around and "aware", i.e. fully conscious of their surroundings. I focus on those. Watch the head and eyes. The other, excellent suggestions fit right into this idea too.

Generally the only people you will see who are obviously "aware" in public are the police; and I see all too many of them in subconscious mode too.
 
I'm wearing a hoodie with the hood on and my hands in my pockets (Aside from typing) I'm cold all the time, and people ALWAYS avoid me. It bugs me sometimes and it's nice others.
 
My head is always on a swivel and my eyes are always moving. Mostly red flags are just from a feeling I get. Thank goodness for that human instinct to recognize danger.
 
Your most likely candidates from everyone are those who do not seem pre-occupied with their sunconscious tasks of going from one place to another; but are looking around and "aware", i.e. fully conscious of their surroundings.
Click to expand...

You could be describing me or any other GG/CCW that has good situational awareness.
 
Funny how we associate normal behaviors (such as wearing a hoodie with the hood up) or being diligent in being situationally aware with potential criminal activities.
 
I often wear a hood up or a hat in winter when it's cold.
But I always take them off upon entering a building.
It's a little thing Grandma called manners.
As in she (or my Mother) would slap me if I didn't do it growing up.

Now that I am all grown up I find out that not only is it good manners, it also makes people feel more comfortable because it shows I'm not hiding something. hmmmm...

Grandma was pretty smart. :D
 
Funny how we associate normal behaviors (such as wearing a hoodie with the hood up) or being diligent in being situationally aware with potential criminal activities.
Click to expand...

Not surprising that diligence would be the same for SA and criminal activity. You would expect someone who is about to commit an illegal act to be diligent of his/her surroundings, so they're not walking into trouble (i.e. nearby LEO)

So the guy keeping his eyes open while walking could be about to mug you, or could be another CCW holder.
 
The Israelis have made a science of detecting criminal behavior before the crime happens. The are renowned world wide as the experts. Some much so that they train American security personal in "Threat Behavior Detection". It is a science based almost entirely on involuntary stress reactions. Dilated pupils, visible changes in heartbeat and blood pressure and others physical signs that cannot be controlled by the individual in question.
 
If you think you are being followed, change your direction suddenly. For instance, if you're on a sidewalk, cross the street. If the person changes his direction as well, ie crosses the street, you can assume you're being followed.

This has nothing to do with any 'intuition'. It's common sense. And there are lots of other common sense ways to determine a person's intent.
 
Also watch out for the "interview" question, especially if it is delivered by a suspicious looking character: "Do you have change for a five" "Hey man do you have the time" "Do you have a lighter" "Can I use your cell phone" etc. These questions are designed to determine your suitability as a victim, and if you seem frightened and weak then you might get attacked. Answer with a very confident "No" and keep moving for a strategic advantage or toward a safer zone. If they follow and keep insisting, that is yet another obvious big warning sign that an attack might come, but it is surprising just how many people talk themselves into staying in a very dangerous situation despite both logic and instinct telling them that they are in danger, due to fear of seeming unfriendly, or due to not wanting to cause a problem, or out of embarrassment over being seen to over-react, etc.

Also, every parking lot is potentially a deadly hunting ground, so beware of parking lots. Stay safe out there.

Also on the above site is a description of the five stages of violent crime
 
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All good 'tells'.
For me, it's the hoodie/sunglassses with the hands in the pockets, the dawdler that 'looks' like he doesn't know where he's going, the guy walking around the 'stop and grab' with no apparent direction, and the guy walking up to me asking for gas money at the pump without any greeting to announce his presence.

First rule I learned is to gain distance during the assessment, and place an object between the 'dude' and me.
 
How about drooping off the butt baggy pants with boxers flapping, poor personal hygiene, loud and obnoxious music, lack of eye contact, and general lack of direction, I think my mom called it "Moping around". Oh and I almost forgot, a general lack of command of understandable English language.
 
Inner-city? Look around the suburbs sometime.

I was once "cased" back when I worked in Southeast DC. Not sure if the whole story is appropriate here or if it would be considered off-topic (just a story of a naive tech-worker and his after-hours downtown close call). But in that case, being watched and approached were what bumped me up into Red, and being surrounded by four of his friends that cranked up the adrenaline. All that before the "interview" question as a previous poster said (asked for change to make a phone call -- funny how clearly I remember it all).

-Justin
 
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