It’s early July and as the desert sun beats down on the Las Vegas Valley, youngsters take refuge, socializing in indoor malls, shopping areas, and movie theaters. Two attractive females are on the prowl in a local mall looking for “Mr. Right.” Their version of Mr. Right is the guy flashing the right clothing, jewels, and most importantly the naivety. Finally, two are located. And moments later…two more. Four guys ripe for manipulation. They set up a date directing the males into a secluded parking lot on the west side of town. All of a sudden, two heavily armed males come out of “nowhere” and everyone is robbed. The females run off apparently to call the authorities and never return. The next day they are robbed again in the same parking lot with the other two males. Four males have lost thousands in cash and jewelry while on an apparent first date. A patrol officer, newly assigned to an investigative team called the Problem Solving Unit, is tasked to investigate both incidents. I was that newly assigned officer.

The only leads I had was that both females had distinctive tattoos and one of them actually used her real first name when purchasing the prepaid cellular phone she used to keep in touch with her victims. Luckily, it was enough. Ultimately, both females were apprehended and submitted full confessions. We later tracked down some of their crew. They were also very proud of what I will call their hunting skills and ready to brag. They individually detailed their methods for choosing ideal victims from yards away in a crowded mall. Along with other conversations with criminals, it was quite a learning experience. I’m hoping to summarize and pass on some tips while attempting to detail a few symptoms of a victim.

Preoccupations
Many violent crime victims are needlessly preoccupied while walking through the dark parking lot on their cellular phone or while walking down dark pathways and not paying attention to their surroundings. I’ve repeatedly noticed another common preoccupation that should be mentioned…infatuation with strangers. The handsome man that brings you a drink, the charmer at an adjacent gas pump, the lovely woman that gets “touchy feely,” and the beautiful women taking you to a secluded “get together,” should be dealt with cautiously. Do not allow your preoccupations to get the best of you. I am by no means a relationship expert, and I am not saying that you should shun everyone that shows interest, however it’s likely that a true admirer would be willing to compromise in a manner that would help both of you feel comfortable. So walk to the bar with him or suggest more sensible locations for initial dating.

Restricted Movement
Whether it’s the female in a skintight outfit, a male wearing jeans just above the knees instead of the waist, or an unsuspecting victim lured into a trap as the victims referenced above, restricted movement is a common and obvious symptom of someone victimized. When speaking with the victims of my first investigation, they all told me that concerns with the location crept into their minds and two of them told me that they even talked to each other about it. However, they all thought the females were so nice, attractive, and harmless. They completely forgot about the possibility of accomplices. When asked why they didn’t suggest or insist on another location, the victims said that they didn’t want to seem too difficult and ruin their chances of “hitting it off” with the females. Such mention may have kept them safe and lessened their victim-like symptoms.

Overall Appearance of Vulnerability
There’s an old cop tradition when a trainee is asked, “how do you walk into a bar fight.” In a way, it’s our version of the “Riddle of the Sphinx” where three points need to be touched upon in the initial answer. The trainee must mention that one must have a manner that displays confidence, professionalism, and the ability to handle yourself and handle others if necessary. When asked why the three elements are necessary the trainee needs to understand that such body language is likely to get most subjects involved with the altercation to cease their actions peacefully. An appearance of vulnerability is a crime magnet. Yet the proper body language with self-confidence and situational awareness regardless of size will deter potential attackers.

In conclusion
The symptoms of victims are unique in that potential attackers notice them and the victim usually has no idea except in hindsight. The tips above may have seemed like common sense but as I’ve once said, it’s quite surprising how rare common sense can be when someone is focused on something else. We’re all guilty of it, so be careful out there, and use safety to boost the fun….this is Vegas!