All Predatory individuals follow a distinct 4, sometimes 5 step methodology, regardless of their motivations or the types of crimes they are committing; it doesn't matter whether they are a mugger or sexual predator they will follow a similar method for selecting and approaching their chosen victim/target. Understanding this process will allow us the ability to identify, predict and avoid violence before it occurs.

The first step is to select an environment (Step 1) where there will be a large selection of potential victims to choose from: predators go where the prey is, and they will want the largest selection to choose from. No predator will want to be forced to choose an "unsuitable" victim simply because they are the only person available and will instead select a hunting ground where there is an abundance to choose from. A mugger looking for victims will not hang around deserted places where they will be forced to wait for a suitable person - who may never actually pass by - when they can go to a populated location, such as a shopping mall, transit station or parking lot and have a wide array of potential targets to choose from.

Muggers want cash - not credit cards - usually to support a drug habit and will want to hunt in places where people will be carrying cash - this could be shopping malls, or lower income areas where people are more likely to use cash than credit cards. A mugger is usually looking to get money for their next fix and will be satisfied with a $20 haul.

A Sexual Predator will choose a location that contains targets who match their victim profile. If it is a rapist who targets 18-25 year old women, he may well frequents bars and clubs which this demographic frequent, if it is a pedophile with an interest in girls aged 8 to 12 he may hang around Ice Rinks, Shopping Malls, Sports Fields, Movie Theatres, Parks etc. (we will talk a lot about this in next weeks blog).

After choosing an environment they will select a victim (Step 2). Part of this selection may be based on a particular demographic e.g. 8 to 12 year old girls if they are a pedophile etc. But common to all predators is the fact that they are looking for a non-confrontational victim; somebody who will hand over control of a situation to them. This may be somebody who overly looks for guidance and support from somebody else and/or someone who does whatever they can to avoid potential confrontations e.g. when they walk in a crowd they are continually moving out of other people's way, and adjusting their movements so that nobody bumps into them. They may observe to see if people seem unaware of their surroundings/situation and ask for help from others.

After selecting a victim they will carry out some form of surveillance on them (Step 3). They will want to confirm that the person they have selected really is acting and behaving like a potential victim. The Great White Shark observes and "tests" its prey many times before it actually attacks, circling and observing from distance, checking if its approaches are noticed etc. Even a predator as powerful and strong as a Great White wants to know it is dealing with prey that will not be able to escape and fight back, and carries out surveillance in order to make sure this is the case. Human Predators are no different, possibly passing by their victims several times before they make their actual assault.

After surveillance, will come some form of synchronization of movement where the predator ties their movement to that of their target either following, approaching, intercepting or waiting for them. Often this synchronization will lead to a predator setting themselves up for some form of verbal exchange e.g. an aggressor may approach a target, under the guise of them giving directions, informing them of the time or lending them money etc. The synchronization being step 4 and the verbal exchange being step 5.

Violence is never random it just seems that way when we're unprepared for it.When we understand the process of an assault we can see there are clear steps that can be potentially identified and if we learn how to spot them we can avoid a physical confrontation in the first place.