| Being aware of your surroundings is one of the first | | | | of God was certainly on her head that day. Had it |
| lines of self-defense. Yet, many women go through | | | | not been for Ray, she might not be alive today. |
| their days not really paying attention to who's | | | | What could she have done? First, not make the |
| watching them. Remember, this is a predatory world, | | | | assumption that a vehicle, any vehicle, belongs to a |
| and although most people are decent there are those | | | | parent. Second, and this is key, she should never |
| who are not, who have nefarious agendas of | | | | have approached her car seeing that a van was |
| molestation, kidnapping, rape and more. Being | | | | parked next to her car, a van whose sliding door was |
| responsible for one's safety means surveying your | | | | just a couple feet from her drivers-side door - a |
| environment to assess any potential threats. | | | | common kidnapping strategy. The best choice would |
| Who's watching you? | | | | have been to return to a safe place, call school |
| For example, when you go to the market, do you | | | | security or the police. |
| notice if anyone is watching you or following you up | | | | Yet another true story; this even more scary. At a |
| and down the isles? When was the last time you | | | | family amusement park, a mother of twins parked |
| took notice of such things? Interestingly, a few | | | | her stroller next to a bench to change one of the |
| weeks after one of our Female Self Defense | | | | baby's diapers. When she turned around to put the |
| Workshops, a women who had taken the class | | | | baby back in the stroller her other baby was gone! A |
| noticed a man following her in the market. After she | | | | parent's worst nightmare. She did the right thing by |
| checked out, he followed her out into the parking lot. | | | | running to security. They closed the entire park down |
| She quickly got into her car and drove to the nearest | | | | and made everyone in the park exit through one |
| police station to dissuade the man from following her. | | | | turnstile. About twenty minutes later, a lady carrying |
| It worked. Her awareness most probably saved her | | | | a baby came through the exit. The mother didn't |
| life. But she said that until she took the course, she | | | | recognize the child but the shoes were the same |
| was oblivious as to who was watching her when she | | | | model her baby was wearing. For precautionary sake, |
| went grocery shopping. Not any more! | | | | security made the woman step aside so they could |
| Another true story. In the 1980s in Orange County, | | | | investigate the matter. Upon further study, the |
| California, a college coed approached her car in the | | | | mother realized it was her baby! The female predator |
| parking lot after leaving class late one night. | | | | who stole the child had dyed its hair, re-pigmented |
| Unfortunately, she wasn't paying attention to her | | | | the skin, changed the baby's clothes - all in twenty |
| environment. A man was waiting for her under her | | | | minutes! The only thing she didn't do was leave the |
| car. As she put her keys in the door, he cut her | | | | shoes off! Had she done so, the mother would have |
| ankles with a razor blade, then raped and murdered | | | | lost her child forever. How scary is that? |
| her. Did this young lady feel that because she lived in | | | | Obviously, the mother wasn't watching who was |
| a relatively crime-free community that she was safe | | | | watching her and her babies when she was in the |
| from attack? We'll never know, but it's obvious that | | | | park. The female thief may well have been stalking |
| she didn't look under her car as she approached it. | | | | her, waiting for an opportunity to steal the child. |
| Sadly, her lack of awareness was a fatal mistake. | | | | After all, she did have hair dye, skin pigment and a |
| Another true story. This was aired on NBC on 29 | | | | set of infant clothes with her - all signs of |
| April 2007. In Saratoga Springs, New York, a high | | | | premeditated kidnapping. Most likely, this is not the |
| school Senior female track star named Lindsey | | | | first theft of its kind. Common sense tells us that |
| Ferguson was going to her car in the school parking | | | | child predators like to frequent places where children |
| lot. Adjacent to her car on the driver side was a van. | | | | are present: amusement parks, playgrounds, school |
| She saw it and thought it was a parent's car. As she | | | | yards, toy stores. Therefore, it is wise to be |
| opened her car door, the van door slide open and a | | | | ever-vigilant and take note of who's watching you... |
| man exited. He grabbed her around the waist with | | | | or your kids... wherever you are. |
| one arm and attempted to cover her mouth with the | | | | The highway is another place to watch out for who's |
| other. | | | | watching you. For example, when you're driving, do |
| Miraculously, a teacher named Ray, who just | | | | you ever check your rearview mirror to see if a |
| happened to be in the parking lot, saw everything, | | | | vehicle is following you, especially if you're driving |
| screamed out to the assailant who jumped back in | | | | alone... and at night? If you become suspicious, drive |
| his van and drove away. Ray, using his cell phone | | | | to a crowded place if possible, watch to see if, in |
| (thank God for cell phones) called the cops as he ran | | | | fact, you're being followed and don't be afraid to ask |
| after the van, giving the police the license number. He | | | | for help. This is another good reason to have a cell |
| then jumped in his car and followed the van. When | | | | phone with you at all times. Emergency 911 calls are a |
| cops stopped the van, the assailant claimed he was | | | | click away. By the way, did you know that all cell |
| only making phone calls and all he did was startle the | | | | phones have GPS tracking devices in them? As long |
| girl, nothing more. | | | | as the phone is turned on, you can be tracked. This |
| Upon inspection, the suspect's van was filled with a | | | | is a good thing if you're being stalked; not so good |
| tarp, a saw, pre-tied slip knots on a rope, a syringe | | | | from a Big Brother standpoint. |
| pre-filled with anti-histamine to knock out the girl and | | | | Summary |
| a camera. His name was John "Rocky" Regan who | | | | To repeat in closing: being aware of your |
| had a history of stalking and abduction. He was, in | | | | surroundings is one of the first lines of self-defense; |
| fact, a predator. Interestingly, neighbors said this | | | | perhaps the most important line. By watching out for |
| 'family man' was a great guy! In other words, | | | | who's watching you, you claim power over your |
| predators don't walk around the neighborhood | | | | environment and maintain peace in your life. By being |
| wearing a red suit with pointed ears, a long tail, | | | | oblivious to your environment, you invite disaster. |
| carrying a pitch fork and announcing their intentions. | | | | Therefore, next time you're out and about no matter |
| They can be perceived as nice guys. John Regan was | | | | where you are, for your safety and well-being, make |
| convicted and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. | | | | sure you know Who's Watching You. |
| How lucky, though, was Lindsey Ferguson? The hand | | | | |