davidtx wrote:I think that making eye contact and talking to them will cause many BG's to back off. Most of them are looking for victims. When you engage, you send a clear message that you aren't in condition white.
I usually stop the suspicious approaching person wih eye contact and verbal contact. Depends on the situation. I usually make eye contact first, usually from the furthest possible distance. Most change their course and go around at this point. If they keep coming, you can use non verbal cues to figure out a lot. Generally someone who is staring at the ground while approaching bears further scrutiny, as does someone who won't hold eye contact and is taking rapid furtive scans (sign of nervousness) of the area. Also of note is someone who is 'boring a hole through your head' with a constant stare, that's usually not good IMHO. I can't really describe what's 'normal', but you know what is, some eye contact, normal scanning of the area. If they exhibt normal behavior I will generally say "what's up dude? how you doin this evening/morning ma'am/sir?" depending on the age, sex of the individual. I usually verbally engage from 45 to 30 feet, close enough that my voice can can carry. If I am getting the negative signs I will hold up my weak hand and say "STOP! Do not approach me!" This has always worked for me, I think the key thing is to show the person that you're alert, and if they're up to no good you're on to their game.
A few months ago I was in a gas station at Custer and Parker in Plano, fueling my Forester after coming home from work, it was about 0330. I see this dude come shuffling out from BEHIND the store and he makes a beeline straight for me, staring at the ground. When he's about 40 feet away I command him to "Stop! I don't want to talk to you!". He looks up at me and says "You don't even know what I want yet..." I cut him off and say "I don't care what you want. Do not approach me!" He turns around and walks away and yells over his shoulder "You're a very rude person!" as he shuffles off back behind the store. "You got it!" I replied. I didn't call the cops because if I called in all the suspicious stuff I see commuting at night I'd be calling five times a week or so
So to whoever it was on this forum that long ago suggested this course of action
I'm in your debt. This technique has worked numerous times.
The only part that I might not have done is shout back at him after he shouted I was rude. I would be afraid he might decide to turn around and come back.