When going about your day-to-day life the threat of armed robbery is probably very low on your list of worries. Even though your chances of being a victim are slim, the fact is there are thousands of muggings a year in the USA and there is a chance you could be one of the unlucky ones. Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best is part of the martial arts ethos, so in this article I will share some key tips for surviving an armed robbery.
1. Stay Calm
When being accosted by an armed mugger your body will flood with adrenaline. People who are not used to these extremely high stress situations have no way of knowing how they will react . Do not behave in a way that will add more drama to an already highly volatile situation. You may want to flee the scene, or attempt to fight, or resist the robber. You may feel like screaming, or you may feel like shutting down and not moving or responding. Fighting these responses will give you the best chance of surviving the situation. Take a deep breath and be compliant with what the crook demands.
2. Always be compliant
The most important rule of surviving an armed robbery is to be compliant with the robber's demands. A mugger's goals are pretty basic; intimidate you into parting with your cash and valuables as fast as possible and then make a swift getaway. Remember, someone who is mugging you is a very desperate person. They may be on drugs and will likely not respond well to resistance. Do not give a volatile person any reason to use a weapon on you which could result in injury, or worse, for yourself or others around you.
3. Talk your way to safety
When a mugger approaches you and makes his intent to rob you known make it clear that you will not hinder him. Put your hands up and say "take whatever you want", then talk your way through the process. If he says "give me your wallet" then before you reach for it let him know you are reaching for it by saying "I am reaching for my wallet now". Quickly and unexpectedly thrusting your hand into your jacket pocket and whipping out your wallet may startle the thief and cause him to react unfavourably. Make slow, deliberate movements and talk the robber through what you are doing.
4. Do not be a hero
Your life is far more important than any material possession you could be carrying with you and if the robber is armed with a gun or a knife then chances are extremely high that you will get hurt, or worse, if you try to disarm or attack the robber. Even for someone like myself, who is a highly trained martial artist with over a decade of experience, I still would not risk trying to disarm a mugger. Let me put it this way, even if there is a 99% chance that I would be successful in disarming the crook it is simply not worth risking my life over. So, swallow your pride and realise that sometimes discretion is the better part of valour.
5. Pay close attention
While the robbery is underway study the thief and take in as much information about him as you can. His face and attire, his build. Does he have any distinguishing marks like tattoos or scars? Does he have a particular accent? All of this information may be useful to the police. If he leaves the scene in a car try to remember the licence plate. As soon as the thief is out of view call the police straight away and inform them. Then write down as much as you can remember or make a voice memo in your phone. Your memory can play tricks on you so make the reminder while it is still fresh.
6. Keep an eye on your mental state
Even thought you remained calm, controlled your emotions and got through the experience unscathed dealing with a terrifying event like an armed robbery can take a great toll on your mental state. If you feel unsettled and shaken speak to a trained counsellor; it will be helpful to mentally process what has happened.
So, commit these tips to memory and internalise their message. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.