Being Cased

[FieroCDSP]

This is interesting reading. Through my retail job, I've gotten pretty good at telling which ones are the thieves and which are the average customer. It kinda clicks in my mind to keep an eye on someone. I can't claim to be able to spot the really good ones. Some of the career ones are really, really good at blending in, but the ameteur and average ones can be spotted with a little practice.
The obvious ones to keep an eye on are groups of teenagers. Usually 3-4 in number, they're hard to keep track of because they pass their goods betwen them, then split into pairs or go own way, meeting up occassionally. You usually get a confirmation when they head out the door staring straight ahead, or slowly inch their way to the door, waiting for someone to nail them.

In a way, they're kinda like a toddler. If they become suddenly quiet, they're getting into trouble. Also, the really boisterous ones are often stealing, simply because they know the burden of proof is on the store, and suspicion isn't enough. They think they're better than the system, and are out to prove it as long as possible. There are also a few acting as cover for another person.

Adults are harder to guage, but if you stick around and watch long enough, you catch the patterns. Most shoppers don't stick around in a single area for long. Even the guys who go to sports or hardware while their wife is in shoes, don't focus much on that area. They'll usually look through the aisles, and if they spot something, they'll stop for a few minutes and move on. Sometimes they'll bring the wife back to get the okay to buy.

I tend to be less alert than I should probably be in my normal travels. Are there any books that help learn observation such as we're talking here?

 

[sm]

ARTiger,
I appreciate your sharing.

Perceptions:

Like a number of folks around the country, local to me are Bank Robberies going bad. Shots fired, folks getting injured and dead.

I am going to interject some personal opinions.
I am not one that is not into false security by those that are "going to take care of me".
I understand insurance rates, cost of doing business, which includes paying for security measures.

I am responsible for me.

Parking a Police Car, be it City, County, State, in a bank parking lot , all day, never moved, and there is no Officer in the bank, may work for some customers that "fall" for this "feeling secure" - It does not for me.

It does not for Criminals.
I was two blocks away, and before I ducked down in my vehicle from hearing gun shots behind me, I saw in my rear-view / side view mirror , the BGs, jump in a vehicle, about two parking spaces from the dummy cop car.

The least the bank and police departments could do , would be use one of the newer paint schemes on the older cars. Around here, some of these Police cars are not even able to run under their own power, just being delivered by a wrecker and "parked" .
Would it hurt to at least air up the tires once in awhile too?

Maybe I am getting old. I liked the Bank Guards that used to spoil me as a kid with treats, doing a magic trick.
I liked seeing the door held open for folks by the guard(s) and the Guards stepping outside to make sure someone made it out to the car.

Bank guards knew customers, in a sense "cased" and "read" the customers.
They knew who was who and if a relative came in, they had a smooth way of finding out it was a relative, and not some person forcing someone to make a withdrawal.
They made sure a boyfriend / girlfriend was safe when they broke up, and when couples went through a divorce, no "scene" played out in the bank.

I knew quite a few Bank Guards. These ladies and gents could shoot. They helped on their free time, with kids learning to shoot.
It was pretty neat getting to shoot a Bank Guards gun too.

 

[JamisJockey]

Camera phones are the devil.
I firmly belive my parents had thier cc number taken with a camera phone while we were in Orlando a few weeks. If you're paying with a credit card, keep an eye on the people behind you.....

 

[1911 guy]

Reading folks in a burger joint.

About a month ago the wife and I got the urge for baked potatoes from Wendy's. It was about midnight and we have a young son, so I went to retrieve said spuds while SWMBO stayed home. I won't go into details, but the alarm bells began ringing in my head due to three "youths". We never spoke a word to each other, but due to some non-verbal jockeying I was wondering if they'd be outside waiting on me. Not a good situation, but it could have been worse if I hadn't been alert.

Paying attention to people can and eventually will save your bacon.

 

[Templar223]

You guys realize of course, it you have to consciously THINK about being being aware of your surroundings, you still have some work to do before you reach that Zen state where you just do it through habit and without thinking.

I find myself reminded of doing this without thinking when the girlfriend thinks I'm checking out attractive womenz and gives me a little elbow jab as I seem to be absent-mindedly always looking around.

No dear, I check everyone out.

John

 

[foghornl]

Not sure if it is still a problem there now, but my "hometown" was having a big string of those "Clean Out The Home Of Those Attending Funeral" and also a different type of "Wedding Crasher"...crashing the home(s) of the wedding party while all were at the Church/City Hall/Park or wherever ceremony &/or reception were being held.

 

[cpaspr]

Probably 12-13 years ago, the second husband of a well-to-do timber widow died. I didn't know either of them, but was friends with the adult daughter and her husband. I was asked, along with another trusted friend, to babysit the house during the funeral. She lived out in the country, and the driveway was about a hundred yards long.

We got there early, parked facing down the driveway, and waited. It was very quiet, but we did have one car that started up the driveway, then backed out and turned around. Was it a burglary? We'll never know if it was going to be one, be we do know it didn't end up being one.

 

[Striker]

Steve,

You make the case (with a lot of good examples!) of why situational awareness is essential for the times we now find ourselves in.

90%+ of bad situations can be avoided by routine and hibitual application of common sense. Unfortunately, common sense ain't all that common anymore.

A sad commentary on the current state of affairs in many locations.

 

[308win]

It is amazing what people will tell you orally and otherwise. Many are insecure and into validation of self worth by whatever means. If it doesn't need saying don't say it; if it doesn't need showing don't show it; if it doesn't need proven don't prove it. Know your suroundings and be aware of your 'neighbors' regardless of situation.

I don't knowingly or willingly let anyone other than family or others close to me walk up on me or intrude into my 'space'; I back up, side step, whatever it takes. I spend a lot of time in public walking around with my hand in my pocket and I ain't smiling because of that action.

 

[FXR]

In my limited number of encounters with the bad guys of the world, I've concluded that the overwhelming majority of the time I would have had plenty of advance warning of the impending Bad Thing, if only my radar was properly tuned. I've since dedicated a lot more time to observation of human behavior and sm's lessons are part of that education.

Thanks, sm; you're a Mentor to many and I appreciate your time and perceptive observations!

K

 

[sm]

Thanks for the kind words again.
Being honest, been one helluva run for me of late, and will continue to be with Life Stuff going on with persons having surgeries and all...

Folks have asked, who or what I am.
No. I am not a cop.
I am nobody, never have been anybody , never wanted to be someone, and don't want to be somebody .
Just a dumb Southern Boy in early 50's, is all I am.

I have seen the elephant as the expression goes. Mine are mine, real, and I own them.

Mistakes are less painful and expensive if somebody else's -anon

 

[sm]

Perceptions.
I use this word often and I have my reasons.
Perceptions also work for and against one.

Mistakes? Yeah, I am human, have made mistakes, and learned from them.

True.

I hate certain environments and settings for reasons, mostly based on real life experiences of Mentors, Victims, and Myself.
Yep , I "case the joint and read rooms too".

Shoes. Parking Deck. Elevator.
There is more to all this situation, leading up to and after, that became real serious and ugly in the blink of an eye for me.

I hated the fact I would have to park in a parking deck and use the elevator access.
Elevators are "vertical coffins" so I was Mentored and Taught.

Professional Thugs and these folks were good. I had been set up.
Short version, I get off the elevator, and was too busy scanning "out" to see "right there".

Never overlook the obvious.

These folks gave the "perception" of being maintainence folks in the parking deck, they had dressed such...

When the driver's side rear window exploded from a gunshot, I went into "flight mode" and my brain screamed "Maint. Folks do NOT wear those kinds of shoes in those uniforms!"

I blew it.
I over looked the obvious, I did not listen to my gut that had said something was wrong with this one worker in particular, and the "perceptions" they chose to use - worked against me.

Yeah, things went from bad to worse to "worser".
About 48 hours worth and I would prefer not to go there.
I will say it was real ugly, I used all sorts of pre- arranged contingency plans, and at the end, when trusted safe folks came to where I was, I was bloody, hurt, the vehicle was a real mess, and I was hiding with a Model 94, in 30-30 with the hammer back waiting for a code word to say it was OK.
My lady partner, tried to keep it together, she did until I passed out, and woke up in small town Vet's office.
I would be moved and kept watch with body guards, to recover enough to finish what started, and ...me being me...do so right under the watch of the folks still responsible for this "problem".
Broad daylight, and in full view.
I was the old man in a wheelchair, my lady partner, my "daughter" and one BodyGuard my "male nurse".
I was given the green light to spit in the eye of evil and we did.
I also wanted to know for sure who had set me up...I did that as well.

 

[azredhawk44]

sm:

Your stories remind me of one of my own.

When Passion of the Christ was released, I went to go see it at an artsy theater in the college district of Tempe.

After paying for my ticket and standing in line, I people watch for a bit. I immediately notice a man just ahead of me waiting to get into the same show.

Middle eastern man, Persian looking, about 20-25 years old. Nervous. Wearing baggy dockers pants (not skater-punk baggy, just oversized), a turtleneck sweater. Very new-looking clothing, with fold-wrinkles in the pants, fresh from Kohl's or whatever department store you prefer. In Arizona summer of 110 degree weather.

I left.

Nothing happened, but dang that was strange. Still glad I left.

 

[sm]

I am a while male, 6' and at the time about 155 pounds.
Lanky, suntanned as I spent time outdoors shooting and fishing and whatever else.
I am no looker, just some "guy". I was sporting a ponytail and this was one tool of perception I used often. Enter with a ponytail, exit with it under a hat, with a reversible jacket...

Elevators, and again Professional Thugs.
I am a typical heterosexual guy, I will notice a pretty girl.

My gut screamed big time from just having to use "this" elevator, as the stairwell was being "worked on" and one other elevator, the one I preferred to use - was tied up. My gut was yelling...

Good looking honey with a slit up the side of that high dollar dress clean up to the hip and the top down l-o-w. Yep, all girl, got all the right parts, no doubt about it, with that much leg and no bra on...

I was wearing my Ray Ban Aviators, even so I held my head a certain way and used the reflection of the mirrors to check out this good looking honey so as to not look like I was "gawking".
She spoke in a nice pleasant voice and asked what floor, I told her as I had positioned myself as I do in elevators.

I blew it.
I did not watch her hands. Instead I was trying not to gawk, seem rude, and be focused on what I was there in the building to do.
I ...was looking downward taking in her body movement...

All hell broke look in a nanosecond and just my luck not only would this gal have a gun, she knew some kind of martial arts.

I was lucky. Lady Luck showed up inside a elevator. When I recovered from the first kick and went inside, I turned that small semi-auto and it did not go off, and it did not break her finger...the gun did hit the floor and kicked it into the corner.

Rut-Roh, I do not know martial arts...dumb me just continued after the gun fell - reacted by going inside and I started punching and kneeing a lady in the midsection.
Anything to keep them legs from kicking...nice legs, still them nice legs hurt like hell.

There was a logo sign in the elevator and managed to break it off the wall about the size of typing paper and use it.
I gotta C&L 1911 Combat Commander still I am keeping her at bay with a sign, retaining my gun...

I finally went from pissed to tee-totally mad, and the elevator was up at the top floor. I yelled some cuss words to the effect of "enough of this crap" and hit the stop/keep elevator door shut button.
Them high dollar dresses do not hold up well in a fight, she had parts all -right...
Screw it, I produce my gun and "stay down, shut up and don't you dare move!"
I snagged that phone and yelled for them to contact room so-and-so and make it snappy and tell them <codeword>.

I ain't opening that door as I figure her other Pro Thugs are outside of it.
Room I was heading to, had body guards. Things went into high alert in a snappy.
We gots BGs in the Building. WE gotta protect that "office".

Body guards, In house security , UC LEOs [trying to keep this low key] with uniformed outside and near.

Elevator phone, and I am communicating like crazy. I ease down to another floor once that floor was "real friggin' ready for you" and I got this UC Lady Cop I knew going "damn, don't you know how to treat a lady?" when I opened that door.

I really thought this lady was either a high class lady, or one of the high dollar Escorts ( as a convention was in town). Nope. Professional Thug, she was sent in to distract and hold me, so her buds could kidnap me to enter that 'Office".
I tossed on a jump suit, to look like part of the building maintenance crew and I spent the night in that office.
I left the building in a way ...I was the vagrant smelling of cheap wine led out in handcuffs and whisked away in squad car...
Thrift store clothes and splash a little wine here and there...good to go...
My vehicle had been whisked away earlier.

We laughed later, I could have worn a nice suit and had one of the Vice Girls escort me out " I gotta dress with a slit up to here", one of the ladies working UC suggested.
My call to give the perception of a vagrant drunk that had found his way upstairs...

But I still blew it, I was just lucky Lady Luck showed up.

 

[sm]

Some ladies not members of THR, are reading this thread.
"Tell 'em about casing a joint and stealing the truck".

I've shared this before. This reinforces how uniforms, badges, cameras and signs do not mean squat , and gives "false security".

I was asked to do a 'walk through" and access a business.
Owner was at odds with his security set up and I was asked to come play and one UC LEO made aware so I would not get busted.

Thrift store , found a similar Polo Shirt, and fake badge. I bee bopped in through the loading dock, right past "authorized folks only sign and camera.
I look like everyone else.
I snag the checkbook of a lady working at desk, and spy the key rack, and steal a van with $$$$ equipment.
I head down the road. I mean this was a snap, total time, no more than 7 minutes from the time I entered until I stopped at a fast food joint and I called to inform them I gotta van and a checkbook.

Surveillance camera...I looked like everyone else with a ball cap, shirt and badge.
"You waved at the camera?" (laughing)
"Yeah, that was so wewould know that is me and not someone else".

Measures have been changed since.

Mentors always said to :Think like a thief
Ex cons shared with me too.
It was part of my lessons to "case a joint" to see how a thief perceived it.
I have always cased myself, home, business and what not...

Sorta fun in a way when you have permission to do this , and you are covered in the event something happens.
Meaning someone in LEO and Security is in the loop. These are the folk that usually ask me to do this.
Easy to over look something, when you are around it all the time.

s

 

[xpun8]

My wife thinks I'm crazy-where we sit, how we sit, where we stand, asking for a table against the wall...I like what you've wrote for a number of reasons. First it proves that I'm not alone, you were able to document while observing and you noticed "little" things that were not so little.

 

[TCB in TN]

Any suggestions for everyday things you can do to make yourself a little safer, I mean I have my own little drill, even out here in the sticks, not that I don't need to do a lot more but some of my habits. Restaurants / businesses, and as mentioned before banks are places I turn from condition yellow to up another notch. Have heard to many stories about public restrooms to every drop my guard there. 1st never use the urinal, always pick a stall, makes it harder for someone to sneak you that way. When entering or leaving the rest room I try to never let anyone behind me, in fact I try to put my back to a wall when ever I am out and about. I ask, and usually wait for a corner table if it is possible. If not then I always face the door or the direction from which a threat most likely to come. Parking lots, again that is NO time to let anyone behind you. I have pulled my wife to the side and let lots of folks pass us by for that reason. I have had a couple of hinky feelings in parking garages, people that just don't feel right, and I don't believe in taking to many chances. So when ever I have to use one I figure on it being hostile territory. I make eye contact, look at each face, and I try to remember the clothes they have on as well, I do my eye contact, head nod "how you doing" thing. I have seen some real rough looking guys see me look at them, and then have them drop their head and change their attitude. I think the fact I look them in the eye nips certain behaviors in the bud. I pretty much do the same for cars who pass me. I look at the car and glance at the driver, if it is one that I have seen several times then I try to take "MORE" notice of it. I have had a couple of strange visitors pull into my driveway before, I always let them know they have been seen. One guy was real hinky, I took a day off during the middle of the week when this guy came all the way up the driveway and stopped before pulling into the yard, I made sure he knew I saw him and he did finally pull on into the driveway. Asked for directions to a place on another adjacent road, but it didn't feel right. As he left I wrote the make and model and plate number down and called the SD. Explained what happened and that it didn't feel right, well I got a call back later that day, they found the guy down the road a little ways and busted him, he had been pulling BEs and had quite a bit of hot stuff that he had lifted that day. I CC just about everywhere I go, and if it is a place I cannot then I try to park in a way that I can get back to my car with as little exposure as possible. Always in well lit areas, never behind buildings, I also try to get a parking space with plenty of room between my vehicle and the others, so that I am not hemmed in. My wife thinks I am a little paranoid, and maybe I am, but so far I have not ran into to much trouble. Again I would love to hear some of your ideas.

 

[sm]

Sitting arrangements.

Funny this come up, I was visiting with someone about this.

We note entrance, exits, bathrooms and how a place is set up.

I do not always want to sit where my back is against the wall or in the seat most obvious to one "watching the joint".

This goes way way back when I was a kid. Seasoned Beat Cop and other Cops, shared this with me.
"Only good guys and crooks do that, and more often w-a-y too obvious about it and give themselves away"

Subtle and Smooth is the key. Perceptions remember?

Out of town, I want to be able to see my vehicle in a dinner, and have access to exit. Now exit may not be the exits marked, that everyone is thinking of- it may be the kitchen as fire code says they gotta have an exit back there.

Read a room. Take note of the next time you are meeting folks that you know CCW.
Watch how obvious it is, and who sits where. It has been advertised this group is a little bit more than just the average "situational awareness" type.

Not always good.

Lady friend and I went to a franchise and sat out in the middle, facing one another. Waitress stopped at our table , I held her chair, she sat, then I sat.
She was watching my back, and I hers. She and I were closer to kitchen, and that is where we could run if trouble come.

Now, 4 guys came in, insisted on a spot, sorta hem-hawed as to who would sit where.
We saw two holsters, and the sound of a gun butt hitting a wood booth back.
We grinned.
WE made them. I bet a $1 they never suspected we were CCWing, and I was not wearing a cover garment, and was packing a full size Gov't 1911.
She had a 1911 under a light over shirt , jeans, and T shirt.
"Out bumming look"

We watched 3 "youths" come in, sorta rude, loud and messing with one of the girls that worked there.
They looked at that spot with 4 guys, one kept watching and had already elbowed another and nodded. Tells me they made the 4 guys CCWing as well.
In a corner...

They never looked our way other than looking past us.

Had we needed to use the restroom, we could have watched the other if we went separately or gone together. We play it by ear, sometimes we choose to not be together, sometimes we want to be near, depends on the setting and how the room reads...

There is a place - to a certain degree- to show one is paying attention , alert and not a "easy prey dumming around" .
Be careful about Advertising and Revealing too much about yourself.

Ante up, play the cards and if you have turn that last card face up, they gotta pay to see that card.

 

[TCB in TN]

There is a place - to a certain degree- to show one is paying attention , alert and not a "easy prey dumming around" .
Be careful about Advertising and Revealing too much about yourself.

That is an interesting statement, I dress very causual, I am a big fat boy, and everyone says that I smile to much, and most folks say I don't take to many things seriously, that I am just a big happy 37 year old kid, my wife has told a couple stories about my security habits to her sisters, and they say that they cannot see me being that way. So for the most part I don't think I come across to strong, when I make eye contact it isn't like I am staring anyone down, I just smile and say hi to just about everyone! I guess I come across like a big ole happy, dumb tourist. It just seems like a small group of people have a little different reaction to it.

Along those lines, there is a buddy of mine who seems to be completely clueless and never seems to pay attention to anything, but he probably runs at a higher level of alert than I do. I have had him point out many things that I missed, and again most people would never suspect that the seems to never miss anything. BTW you mentioned people getting made, well so far I have been lucky, if I have been it was by someone who didn't mention it. Local I know lots of people who CCW and anytime I see one of them and can make their weapon, I point it out to them, so I would imagine they would me as well so far I have been OK.

But those are good thoughts to keep in mind.

 

[BullfrogKen]

It's impossible to live in eternal, constant Condition Yellow. Your mind needs some time to go into White to relax, recharge, and refresh.

People will get behind you in life. Get comfortable and deal with it, or become a hermit.

As its been shared with me before, and I'll share with you, live life in a state of detached curiousity. If something seems odd about a situation, or out of place, focus your curiousity upon it until you can resolve the impropriety to your satisfaction. If the conclusion is something bad is imminent, take some action.


Oh, and for all you wall huggers and corner squatters. We've found in Force on Force/Simunitions training that time and time again walls and corners are not our friends. They restrict movement choices. Sitting against a wall, participants in such training actually find that they voluntarily "put themselves up against the wall", and are now "between a rock and a hard place," when something actually happens that they now need to get away from. These little commonplace saying came about for a reason.

I guess you can walk through life however you want, but living in Condition Yellow is mentally exhausting.

 

[TCB in TN]

Bullfrog,
I agree going through life in constant condition yellow would be mentally exhausting, and I like the comment about detached curiousity, that is a good way to describe things. I try to live my daily life like I sleep, at night normal noises, including the dogs, don't wake me. Odd noises, including non normal dogs noises do. I do have a natural curiousity and I have built on that until I am much further along w/o putting a lot of extra effort in to it. If it looks and feels normal then I pass it off as such, if it looks or feels hinky well, another closer look is certainly warrented.

As for wall sitting, one thing I didn't mention was that I usually try to put myself as far from where I think the "action" would be as possible. Now I may be wrong, but I would rather try to limit my blind spots, and give myself as much distance from trouble as I can, and if I have to trade movement choices for distance, well in most cases I will make that trade. A prime example would be the focal point for trouble in most businesses, the cash register. Finding a seat that has plenty of distance and preferably some cover from the likely trouble point would only seem to be wise, and it really doesn't take a lot of effort either. And if I have to go to the cash register, that will be when I ramp up my "awareness" to be ready if trouble does come. I don't let it run my life, but I do keep it in my awareness.

 

[sm]

Ken,

Good point. One has to refresh batteries,or else the batteries will be recharged when really needed.

Applies to situational awareness , and dealing with life and just what life is all about.
If one is always "concerned", "stressed" or "thinking" - it wears them down, affect physical health and quality of life.
Worry about weeds in the yard, being nosy about neighbors and then have a serious matter come up of your own, and the ability to deal effectively is diminished.

Ego gets guys in so much trouble.
On a road trip, I have no problem letting another drive, not even a lady.
When I am going for long periods of time, very little sleep, and lots going on with school...
Lady Friend for example takes the lead. I know I am not 100%.


Look for what is not natural. Trying too hard wears one down.
Snipers use spotters and only stay behind the gun so long.
Deer hunting, look for what is not natural, not for the deer.

I mean just be normal, pay normal attention, like a pot hole in a street.
It is naturally not natural if you will. Don't over think it.
Next time down that road, the mind will nudge you and remind you of that pot hole.

 

[sm]

Never bunch up.
In retail / business settings is it advised if senses tell you suspicious folks are casing you, spread out, and don't run into a "boxed" situation.

Hence the reason many retail settings have an island of showcases in the middle instead up against the sides of a store.

Showcases in an oval. Walkway between this an interior island.

Some I have done include these having stand up desks , where a high stool with chair back [think tall bar stool] where work areas, gift wrap, catalogs, computer, whatever.
I have also added steel plates/ bricks/ or similar about 3' to 48" up for bulletproofing / cover for employees.
Harder for a BG to get folks in a corner. Too many ways to evade if the BGs jump over show case.

Two BGs did come into this place, busted a showcase with a tire tool...
This is done to totally un-nerve folks.
Two empoyees in this island, one around the smooth rounded corner from where the BGs where, one in the restroom and one, was right behind them as they entered sitting in a desk.
She scooted out the front door and they never saw her, just the door closing, she ran for help.

Cops showed up. BGs at bay. Two shotguns on them, two handguns.
Only injury, a pair of hose ruined, hitting the deck behind some bulletproof stuff in the island,and crawling with a shotgun accessed and being in position down the other end of island.

That business did not always have this set up, I changed it for a reason, and afterwards saw some faults, and tweaked them.

Note: Shotguns are NOT racked for effect.
Racking a shotgun gives one position away.
These were pump shotguns, and the only sound "IF" anyone were to know it, was a snick, of safety coming off.

I often kept /keep my serious Defensive Guns without a Safety period. I took safeties out on purpose.
I competed like this, lots of trigger time like this...

I was taught to never give my position away with the racking of shotgun, throwing a bolt, or anything.

I know the sound of a shotgun being racked.
I have used that sound to know where the BG was...
I have used that racking sound to MY advantage...

 

[BullfrogKen]

TCB in TN said: one thing I didn't mention was that I usually try to put myself as far from where I think the "action" would be as possible. Now I may be wrong, but I would rather try to limit my blind spots, and give myself as much distance from trouble as I can, . . . . A prime example would be the focal point for trouble in most businesses, the cash register.

2 points - Don't limit the encounter to the fight you envision.

Life rarely follows script. The cash box is a point for a criminal to hit. But so is the waitress. Her boyfriend/husband might enter and begin an altercation. So could any two patrons present, and you won't know who those are simply by looks. Even the well-dressed church couple gets into fights about emotionally charged matters. Immigrant worker kitchen staff, the ones you never see, might find a matter than can only be settled by violence. How do you plan for them all by your seating arrangement? Walls and corners suck when the fight happens and you need to get out away from them to escape.


Blind spots - You'll never solve them all. You only have one set of eyes. How would you notice what is happening around the corner of an L shaped floorplan? Answer - watch the people present to cover for your blind spots. People are not "sheep" when something "worthy of observation" unfolds. They will watch. They may not know enough to realize they need to get out of there, but rather want to watch to satisfy their curiousity. When other folks' curiousity becomes intently focused on something you can't view, or missed, that's a clue. When they get visibly uncomfortable, so that it shows on their faces, that's a really BIG clue.

So, learn to use other people to help you, and work less on retaining the role of monitoring the entire room, and parking lot, as your job to spot everything. Its not realistic anyway.


Just my .02 cents.

 

[sm]

Ken,
Great Points!

If someone screams, ice water is knocked over on a table, Bus boy drops a tray of dishes, that might be the "tip" there is trouble in a area you cannot effectively watch.

Now to confuse matters...

These same things might also be planned distractions.

That bus boy drops all them dishes over here, and his buddy that came in, has snagged a purse from a customer and is out the door the other direction.