The Athena Crisis

01/12/2023

27 Close Call in-person classes are now scheduled in Cheyenne WY. 27 Close Calls is a type of self-defense that does not rely on the use of weapons nor fighting; it's a proactive method to keep you safer than ever before. This is "self-defense for the brain".

A free presentation will be given Monday, January 23rd at 7pm at the Cheyenne Holy Trinity Catholic Church RE center. All women 18 and up are invited to this event, where you will walk away with practical techniques you can use right away.

Information regarding additional classes on Jan 30 and Feb 6 will be provided at the presentation.

03/25/2022

Consider what's in your purse right now that you'd regret being there if it was stolen. Do you really need to have it with you in the first place? And consider making copies of front and back of all cards you do carry so you can easily make phone calls and cancel right away, etc.

https://kgab.com/cheyenne-police-investigating-rash-of-distraction-thefts/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=KGAB%20Daily%20Newsletter%202022-03-24&utm_term=KGAB%20Smart%20List

Stay safe out there.

Cheyenne police are warning residents to be aware of distraction thefts occurring in the city that appear to be part of a nationwide crime spree.

10/05/2021

A Flashpoint is anything that drastically increases the danger, and it can last a few minutes to a few days or longer. Examples include a coworker getting laid off, court papers being delivered to an ex, rioting neighborhoods, or confronting someone with news that puts them on the defensive. Flashpoints are extremely dangerous and need to be de-escalated quickly or avoided altogether.

In these days of high extended stress, fear of job loss, political division, health issues, and concern for the future, Flashpoints are never too far away. Someone who may normally be pretty calm may reach a breaking point and turn violent. Stay on high alert and do whatever it takes to de-escalate the moment before it explodes or turn around and get out of there quickly.

Stay safe out there.

06/24/2021

The Athena Crisis has long encouraged keeping doors and windows locked in homes and vehicles. It's an effective way of thwarting predators who are looking for an easy target. Don't wait for your car to automatically lock or assume that you are in a "safe" neighborhood where this can't happen. Stay safe out there.



https://www.facebook.com/1847198828858247/posts/2916454471932672/

Police Urge Caution and Common Sense

Laramie, WY - Laramie Police are urging citizens to use common sense when securing their belongings and caution when seeing would-be thieves.

Officers advise of a recent spate of incidents in several different areas of the City involving people “testing” car doors to see if they’re locked. Unlocked doors invite thieves into cars where anything can be easy loot.

In one recent event in the 100 block of Ord St, the owner of a vehicle observed subjects attempting entry into his car and verbally called out to them. As the subjects were making their escape, they discharged a handgun in the owner’s direction. Nobody was injured, but police are concerned by the rapid and unwarranted escalation by the would-be thieves.

When parking your car, police advise owners lock the doors, park in well-lit areas, when available and securing valuables in places other than vehicles. Citizens should also call 9-1-1 when observing events in-progress and avoid direct confrontation with criminals. For events not in progress, citizens should call the non-emergency number at (307) 721-2526. Citizens are also urged to call the non-emergency line if they have information about specific recent burglaries.

06/14/2021

How do predators think? What do they look for that allows them to do what they have in mind? The better we can get at understanding their thought processes, the more likely we can find ways to counter them.

For example, if a predator is looking for someone walking down a street alone and distracted (looking at phone, listening to music, etc) so they can attack, we can counter that by staying alert, walking with others, keeping an eye out for everything going on around us, and watching anyone approaching. If a predator's style is more that they look for an easy way into a house, we can keep our doors and windows closed and locked, even when we are home.

Spend some time thinking about the circumstances that were present that allowed a predator to successfully attack and you may find some ways to keep it from happening to you.

Stay safe out there.



Photo by Bruno Thethe from Pexels

04/10/2021

Step 1: Identify the potential for danger. Step 2: Navigate the situation by taking steps to stay safe.

Meeting someone you don't know is always a risky business, especially if you plan to meet them alone and in a secluded place, or at a location that they control (e.g., their home). Whether it's for a date, a business transaction, or anything else, take the time to think through the situation before you are in it, then take whatever steps are necessary to stay safe.

Some tactics to use:
1) don't go alone - take a trusted friend with you

2) tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back

3) use your phone - as you approach the stranger, be on the phone, saying something like "I just arrived at 123 Main Street. The guy I'm meeting is 6' with dark hair. I'll call you in 5 minutes." Saying this within earshot of the person you're meeting tells that person that someone else knows where you are, who you're with, and that they will be expecting to hear from you. If this feels awkward, laugh it off by explaining to the person you're meeting, "My husband is a cop and he insists I tell him where I'm going."

Stay safe out there.



https://concealednation.org/2021/04/woman-murdered-after-meeting-with-guy-to-buy-fridge-from-facebook-marketplace/

Is a ban on Facebook Marketplace coming by means of executive order? Of course not. A Pennsylvania woman saw a refrigerator on Facebook Marketplace and contacted the seller. She agreed to go to his house to see the item, and if all checked out, make a purchase. She never left the house, and was foun...

03/30/2021

You need to have service done inside your house, but how do you stay safe while strangers are doing the work?

Some ideas:

* research the company and verify their identity before allowing them into your home. Know who you expect to be doing the work before they arrive.

* have someone with you while the work is done instead of being home alone.

* if you have to be alone, imply someone could be arriving at any moment (e.g., "my roommate will be coming home any time now"). Speak in terms of "we", implying someone else is either in the house or is about to arrive.

* be on the phone when the service staff arrives, saying to a friend on the phone, ***within earshot of the staff***, something like "the plumber just arrived. I'll call you in a few minutes." Or while on the phone ask the service staff what their name is because "your friend on the phone may want to use them too". This tells the service staff that someone else knows who they are and that they are there in your home and that someone is expecting to hear from you and will come checking if you don't call.

* stay aware of where the staff are and what they are doing at all times. Don't get distracted and taken by surprise.

* keep an escape route accessible (either to outside your home or to a room you can get to and lock) and a phone charged and with you in case you need to call for help.

What else can you do?

Stay safe out there.



Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

03/08/2021

How far do you go to "be nice" or to "be polite" to strangers? Many of us were raised to do that, but it can put us in danger if we encounter a predator who is willing to take advantage of that natural tendency.

Imagine someone at your door, asking if they can tour your home because they grew up there, have fond memories of the house, and want to see how things have changed or stayed the same. They insist they are "safe" and only have innocent intentions in mind. What do you do? What potential danger may be present? Can you fight your desire to help them?

Stay safe out there.



Photo by Lina Kivaka from Pexels

02/17/2021

Did you notice the guy across the street talking to himself and singing? Did the other people you were with notice him? He may have been "just drunk", but that doesn't mean you can let your guard down. What's your plan if he tries to talk to you? Or if he comes across the street toward you? What will you do to stay safe? What if you plan to leave, but have to come back? Can you be sure he's not still there?

Identifying the potential for danger as soon as possible is key to being proactive in your safety. Immediately start planning how you will navigate through that situation safely and what you'll do if things escalate and you now have to deal with it.



Photo by rebcenter moscow from Pexels

01/29/2021

A recent story brought to our attention emphasizes the importance of being vigilant in protecting our safety when opening the door of our home to strangers. Thankfully nothing happened, but it certainly could have turned out differently. We are highly vulnerable for attack when entering/exiting our home or car, but sometimes we have to open our door to strangers (e.g., pizza guy, package delivery, salesman, repair guy). How do we do that safer?

* know who is on the other side of your door (Use the peephole or window, or brace the door with your foot at the base and lean into the door as you open it, use a locked screen door to speak to the person)

*if you're home alone, imply someone else is there or is about to arrive (call out to "someone" that the pizza arrived; say to the person at the door that you need to ask your husband who is in the living room; be or pretend to be on the phone and within earshot of the handyman tell your husband who is "on the phone" that the repair guy is there and that you'll see your husband soon)

* meet the delivery guy outside by stepping out of your house and away from the door

*if you feel awkward lying, just blame it on someone who sounds like someone the bad guy wouldn't want to mess with (e.g., "my husband is a cop and he insists that I do that").

REMEMBER: WE DON'T OWE THE BAD GUY POLITENESS OR THE TRUTH



Photo by Rodrigo Santos from Pexels

01/18/2021

You don't owe the predator the truth or politeness! If you are in danger, all that matters is getting to safety. Many of us were raised to be polite and honest, but that can cost us our safety if we're in danger. It may take some practice learning to lie convincingly and you may have to come to grips with being "rude". Prioritize your life over your manners!



Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

01/06/2021

The first two phases of being proactive in your safety are Identification and Navigation, but if you find yourself in a dangerous situation and something is happening that threatens your safety, you are in the third phase: Deal With It.

Try to keep opening Safety Windows where you can buy yourself TIME, DISTANCE, or ENERGY to get to safety. Is there something you can say or do that will give you TIME to think what your next step will be? Can you create physical DISTANCE between you and the predator to make it harder for them to contact you? You may need to ramp up your ENERGY to be ready to fight or run out of the situation. There are many tactics you can use to try to open a Safety Window and you may have to open more than one if a tactic fails. It's important to keep trying. Don't give up!



Photo by Magda Ehlers from Pexels

12/29/2020

Planning on drinking to celebrate New Year's?

Step 1 - Identification: Recognizing the potential for danger ahead of time lets you make and take proactive steps on how you will stay safe when you go out. You can start planning now for what your plan will be to stay safe in a few days.

Step 2 - Navigation: How will you keep your open drinks safe from being drugged when you go to the restroom? How will you handle the creepy guy watching your every move? Will you have a way of noticing him in the first place? How will you get home safely? Do you have a friend identified ahead of time who will act without hesitation if you indicate you need help?

Stay safe out there.



Photo by Burst from Pexels

12/15/2020

Holidays might look different for many of us this year, but still, we may find ourselves busier than normal, distracted with to-do lists, errands, visits, shopping, and church activities. Bad guys would love to see you distracted: sitting in your unlocked car between errands and checking your phone, visiting with others and not paying attention to those who may be approaching, loading your car with groceries or presents and not keeping an eye out for anyone nearby. If you are not staying aware of your surroundings, you are making their job much easier.

Make it a point to keep your home and car doors locked (manually lock them as soon as you close the door), wait until you know you're safe to check your phone, and frequently look all around you for anything suspicious no matter what you are doing.

Stay safe out there!



Photo by Kristina Paukshtite from Pexels

12/09/2020

This post was recently shared with The Athena Crisis. This real-life story illustrates how easy it can be to find ourselves in a vulnerable and dangerous situation. The story's hero, Jez, does many things well that are good methods to try to mitigate her safety: meeting in a public place, driving her own car, staying calm, playing along (calling him out would force him to choose how to respond, which could have been dangerous), having her phone charged and available, pretending to have contacted a friend, taking control and very clearly telling him no, getting an es**rt to her car, and telling the police afterwards. But as we hear, these things were not enough. She was lucky to have been alerted to what was happening before it went any further, but we can't rely on others acting on our behalf.

We can use this case as a way to make ourselves safer. If we think about what happened and think it through calmly and objectively, we can find methods that we can use if we are ever in a similar situation. This is NOT an exercise in trying to place blame where it doesn't belong - the bad guy did it and is solely to blame.

So in addition to all the things she did well, what do we wish she would have done or could have done better? Leave your ideas in the comments.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crime-junkie/id1322200189?i=1000501304641



Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

12/07/2020

After spending time identifying the potential for danger of an upcoming activity, spend some time purposely thinking about how you will navigate that situation so you will be safer. What do you need to prepare or set in place ahead of time? What is your plan if something happens? Figuring those things out when you are calm will help you know what to do if things get tense.



Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

12/01/2020

Many crimes can be predicted if you know what to look for and take proactive steps to stay safe. Any activity you're planning on doing, think about it ahead of time to see if you can see any potential for danger. This first step, Identification, gives you the opportunity to start thinking about how you will get through that activity in a safer way. You can do this minutes, hours, or even days in advance.



Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom from Pexels

11/26/2020

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. No matter how you spend your day, remember to stay aware of your surroundings and take proactive steps to be safe.