Make vigilance a habit

The world watched in horror as 15 people were murdered at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia. They were targeted due to their group association, religion. Reporting indicates the murderers were members of another faith and used violence to stop others from celebrating their beliefs.

Closer to us, a woman was walking home from a church service, at night, in Forsyth Park, when a coward approached her and threw acid on her face. He is still at large. Reporting indicates she was targeted randomly and did not know her attacker – a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And the violence continues – seemingly unabated. It is hard to witness these events, and it dampens the often jubilant feeling this time of year. We must not give up hope, lock ourselves out to the world, and we cannot give in to violence and those who perpetrate it.

We must remain vigilant. It is not just violence we must be vigilant against - it is also theft and fraud. As this column is being written, someone is receiving an unsolicited email, letter, or phone call from some scammer trying to further disrupt the joy of the new year.

The scams always start with urgency and fear and target something we care about (money/family/home). Messages like: call us right away – your account is compromised and will be frozen or your computer is compromised click link here to fix or all files will be lost.

These scams appeal to our sense of security and are very effective. If receiving something like this, disengage. Contact your financial institution or loved one – if this was the hook for the fraud, or contact law enforcement or a trusted advisor. If the fraud has already been perpetrated do not be embarrassed to say something and stop it vs. continuing to pay. The scam could also be a something for nothing scheme. Most always, the scheme requires some type of deposit from you to get the prize.

Remember the old adage: if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Some quick thoughts on vigilance. Leave lights on and alarm house when leaving. Pay particular attention to suspicious vehicles or people in your neighborhood. Do not create a story or alibi for their presence. Just recognize they are acting suspiciously and contact law enforcement for further investigation.

Join a neighborhood/police Facebook group or neighborhood app so you can be informed of things going on where you live.

When going out, think about where you are going and what is your plan if some type of random violence begins – like Bondi Beach. Most folks think they will respond like the hero who charged the gunmen but that is not realistic. Most people caught in those situations follow others and that is not always the best choice. Moving away from the area is always an option worth exploring and so is fortifying a position inside a building.

No matter what, take effective action that saves lives – yours and others.

James Hamilton is a nationally recognized executive protection expert and former FBI Supervisory Special Agent. With 18 years at the Bureau, he created its Close Protection School, served on the Director’s detail, and continues to advance protective security worldwide.