From my good friend Jim Shepherd. Seems very appropriate this time of year, more so with crime soaring in some places. But, the lesson is for all seasons.

A Cautionary Tale - Jungle Wisdom

https://www.theoutdoorwire.com/features/7e2ba80f-ca3b-4b6a-8491-86ffbbd37326

"There’s no fight as ill-considered as a fair one."

Great advice!

Certainly don't deny that bad folks are lurking, ready to take advantage, but there is another aspect - note the stories of spontaneous aid offered to the folks in Kentucky.

The closest I ever came to being mugged was sitting my car in a hospital parking garage at night. I was tending to something before heading inside and I saw someone aggressively approaching my car in my mirror. My door was already open and I didn't want him to get to me while I was still seated. I stood up and I was fortunately a lot bigger than the would be aggressor (I'm not a particularly big guy, but he was tiny) and by this time he was about three feet from me. He stumbled for words, said something about needing directions, and then ran off. Woof. Close call. Pay attention out there.

Mr. Shepherd did well. I'm a big, big fan of avoidance.

When I teach concealed carry I spend a lot of time on avoiding contact with potential assailants.

When I had my class a long time ago they had a short video where a guy drove up by an ATM at night in an empty, dark parking lot, got our of his car leaving it running to walk up to the ATM and was approached then by "potential bad guy" for a what would you do scenario. The instructor wasn't real happy with my response of not stopping my car in the road/fire lane, not leaving the engine running, etc to prevent/avoid the scenario, etc because the class was focusing on the "bad guy"

But I have noticed a lot more crime. We've had a lot of cars stoles, lots of people going around checking for unlocked car doors, etc.

Wow! Get out and leaving your car running with the keys in the ignition is world-class bozo stuff! Due to circumstances that would take a long explanation I often end up using at ATM very late in the eve/early in the morning but I never leave my car running.

Apropos of nothing, banks really do a crappy job of helping to make their ATMs secure. They seem to love the kind of landscaping that looks good from the street but gives predators plenty of concealment to prey on customers.

Kroger near us put in a starbucks. Many people will pull their car up in the fire lane, get out and leave it running, go in and get their starbucks and get back in their car. Even though they have a bunch of parking spaces reserved for starbucks right there in front of the store.

Also been a story recently, about thieves putting trackers on cars in parking lots, so can track them to their home.

https://www.yrp.ca/en/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=167fa5b3-3583-431d-8cc0-91e49aee3bff