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The point of the following scenario is to clearly demonstrate what we’re all up against in what I define as the “War against Crime.” There’s a huge misconception connected with the term “Organized Crime.” Organized Crime has come to be defined as synonymous with “The Mafia”, it is not. The two very well organized and disciplined criminals I describe below could be any nationality and not necessarily of Italian decent which is a pre-requisite to be in what has become known as the Mafia in America.
Smart, dedicated hard working thieves love holidays. They can’t wait for winter to get here. They love to see intelligent, hard working and law-abiding citizens make mistakes which help them whether at home or traveling. The feeling that “No criminal act will ever happen to me” intensifies especially at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Our holidays are great criminal payday, probably the best score they’ll make all year happens at this time. The weather is a major asset to intelligent, serious criminals. Enterprising crooks get busy in any place the weather is very cold with lots of snow. Most people don’t like snow, sleet and below freezing temperatures which provides a great reason for them to overeat and over-drink alcoholic beverages and be caught off-guard, more then ever on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. At this time of year, actually all year, dedicated thieves have been getting into great physical shape for months to take advantage of the weather conditions, people’s increased apathy, increased consumption of alcohol and other drugs associated with partying.
The presents under your Christmas tree and hidden throughout your house at this time of year motivates professional thieves. Neighborhood gatherings and parties are a perfect opportunity for a thinking-man’s thief. All the best jewelry is worn to these gatherings, parties, and while traveling—some people love to be noticed and show-off their wealth. Almost everyone at this time of year is in an upbeat, happy, and caring frame of mind. Who has time to think about crime and crime-prevention? Criminals do, they realize this fact and use the increased apathy to their advantage!
The reason all crime happens is because of desire, ability and opportunity, these three elements must work in unison for any crime to be successful. These very same elements must also work in harmony for any type of crime-prevention to be successful. Unlike the average citizen, especially at holiday time, the professional thief is prepared for any situation before he/she goes to work. Let’s walk through a home invasion planned and executed during a snowstorm. The home invasion duo has been waiting for bad weather, it helps them go unnoticed, make entry and to get away. They are in great physical shape, have the best electronic scanning equipment, have weapons with them and will not hesitate to use those weapons. Their vehicle will be a four wheel drive SUV, Truck, or Jeep so they can easily drive to and from their target even in the middle of a snowstorm. They usually have better vehicles than the local police.
So the situation we now have is a family who was totally unprepared because they believed that they would never be the target of any crime; they believed crime only happened to other people. This family, now having gone through a violent home invasion, was totally unprepared, never practiced any form of crime prevention and even had the weather against them. They’re lucky to be alive, and they know it.
Unlike the well-organized, disciplined and well prepared home invasion duo, now laughing at their good fortune, who will be long gone in their four wheel drive vehicle with everything of value this family owned plus all the new expensive gifts bought to help them celebrate Christmas, all of which will now be placed under the crooks Christmas Tree!.
Please make it a Merry Christmas.
George Feder is a former master jewel thief and former America’s Most Wanted Correspondent. Visit GeorgeFeder.com or follow him on Twitter (@GeorgeFeder) to go inside the criminal mind and get tips on how you can stay safe.
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