How do I define “Apathy”? As a former criminal, I describe apathy in this way: It’s a serious mental disease that almost all people have. Criminals love the fact that people have it and hope they never recover. This may not be the dictionary definition, but I’m telling you how it’s defined by criminals.
I simply can’t comprehend how anyone that claims to be a rational, intelligent, and loving individual cannot become pro-active when it comes to crime-prevention. Law enforcement statistics are readily available and quoted in all forms of media: TV, radio, internet, newspapers, and whatever else exists.
The following statement is a documented fact: A burglary and/or home invasion happens every 10 to 15 seconds in the U.S., 24 hours a day, and 365 days a year every year! With the odds stacked up against all of us, how is it possible that we all are not pro-active when it comes to protecting ourselves and our loved ones? The answer is simple; to my mind this analogy explains it all: Why do people who smoke cigarettes and cigars and those who choose to “chew” tobacco continue to do so, knowing all too well that indulging in that behavior causes cancer? The same mindset applies to apathy when related to crime-prevention.
Almost all good criminals—and by good criminals I mean successful criminals—are usually masters of human behavior. They know from experience that most people are apathetic about crime prevention because they believe they are happily exempt from any crime happening to them—it always happens to other people. As nuts as that sounds, that is the reigning thought process in almost all civilized countries and of course here in the U.S. The end result is that people who have not been directly involved by becoming a victim of a crime do not become pro-active when it comes to crime prevention. That definitely gives criminals the advantage. Hang on, because the scenario I just described is bad but it gets worse!
I’m now going to use a burglary I committed twice in the same condo 6 months apart to prove my point about just how bad the apathy that exists in the U.S. really is. This particular condo was in an affluent Florida coastal area, it had a guard in the lobby, surveillance cameras, and all the dwellings had “Schlage” deadbolt locks (good locks but not pick resistant) on the main entrance door to each individual Condo. This building was an easy target, and I made a great days pay when I fenced the jewelry I had stolen there.
I’ll explain what made it easy. I had gained entrance to the main building by what’s called “Lloyding” (using a tool that opens an “in the knob” lock quickly without having to pick as you do with a deadbolt lock) the side entrance door which entered directly into the stairwell, enableding me to gain access to every Condo in the building. A simple $5 metal plate placed on that side entrance door would have prevented my easily entering the stairwell and getting into the main building. I would have had to find a more difficult way to enter that building.
Once in the stairwell, I discovered that every door leading out of the stairwell and into the residential hallways was not locked—a big mistake, which allowed me easy access to every Condo in the entire building. The lighting in the hallways was dim which allowed me to move about freely without fear of being easily spotted. There were very few surveillance cameras in the hallways, which were not strategically aimed. In many cases, even in Condo’s that cost over 1 million dollars, builders choose to cut corners and save money by using cheap or insufficient security products. As always crime-prevention is not a priority with builders and property management companies because the residents are usually apathetic when it comes to crime and crime prevention for the reasons mentioned above and don’t insist on adequate protection.
Here’s my all-important point: I waited 6 months and returned to this very same building because it had been an easy target the first time, and I made a lot of money there. Even though my score made headlines in the local newspapers and wound up on the 6 o’clock news, no improvements in security were made! I breezed just as easily through the building the second time and again made a great score!
We must acknowledge the existence of apathy and the advantage it gives all criminals. We need to change!
Stay Safe.
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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