My campus crime article the other day referenced a woman on campus who resisted an assailants request for her purse and was pistol whipped. (see post here)

I came across another article today where the victim of a crime did the right thing.  He was approached on campus by two men (one with a handgun) who demanded his belongings.  The student gave the men what they requested, when back to his room and called the police.

The university police are actively searching for the perpetrators from the description given to them by the “alive” victim and it’s likely they will be caught. (read full article here)

The important self-defense lesson here, and another way to avoid death or serious injury, whether on-campus or not, is to understand when to resist and when not to.

The assailants asked for the subject’s “belongings” – that means his “stuff.”  No “stuff” is worth your life.  He simply gave them as requested, went home and called the police.

Let the movies show subjects fighting back with fancy karate moves.  In real life, like I learned in Special Forces, sometimes it’s just best to be invisible and move on.

By the way, the article included some good crime prevention tips, so I’ve included them below:

Crime Prevention tips:

1. Criminals often seek victims who are alone or isolated. Traveling or walking in groups reduces the risk of being targeted by a criminal.

2. If you are the victim of a crime, call police as soon as it is safe to do so. The best chance of catching a fleeing suspect is immediately following a crime.

3. Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. In the event that you are late returning, someone may be able to summon help to look for you.

4. Always pay attention to your surroundings. Avoid texting, talking on the phone, or listening to music while walking, especially if you are by yourself. Deny criminals a chance to sneak up on you.

5. Always report suspicious persons or incidents immediately to police. When in doubt, have police check it out.