I have read and watched a lot of true crime stores/dumb criminal stories/bios of criminals, serial killers, police and FBI. After reading a few you start noticing a lot of repetition in the way crimes are committed. Pay attention to repetition because after awhile you could almost write the story yourself. I think it helps to drive home how things happen and makes you think what could have been done differently and at what point. Have your friends do the same and discuss it.

Also take extreme notice of that small voice when it tells you something isn't quite right. In many stories people who almost became victims were later interviewed by police couldn't say what it was that made them bail out. Trust your instincts.